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Saturday, September 18, 2010

"I Need A Head Count!"

It seems that Greyhound-German Shepherd relations may be improving here.  Of course, now that I've said that, we'll have some sort of incident I suppose.  I base that solely on Murphy and his laws of bad luck.

It's interesting to note that while Bunny is not shy about telling Morgan off if she gets too pushy, they are often in the same vicinity, even when they don't have to be.  I'm not sure if it's the weekend hiking trips together or something else, but something seems to be working out. 

If we go to the dog park, Blueberry immediately starts looking for some clean blades of grass to, um, make unclean.  Bunny trots around the park to sniff all the pee mail.  Morgan takes off on a perimeter check and hunt for some other dogs who might want to play bitey face or chase.  However, after everyone's business is attended to, Morgan and Bunny are nearly always in the same vicinity.

The other night we were out on our walk.  After a while, I handed Blueberry's leash to Mr. Taleteller, since neither of us has the patience to walk her for the full loop that our walk entails.  She likes to toss in a dose of jackassery to keep us all from fully enjoying an evening's outing and make us look like jerks to the people in town as she walks as far behind us as her leash will allow.  Alas, I digress.  Blueberry was walking with Morgan and Mr. Taleteller.  At one point, they crossed the street and Bunny and I waited on the other side for a van to pass by.  Morgan turned around to look for us just as the van blocked us from her line of sight.  Of course, entertainment ensued, if not for Mr. Taleteller, certainly for the neighbors who might have been looking out the windows as things unfolded.

Morgan:  Head count!  I need a head count!

Mr. Taleteller:  What are you talking about?  We're all here.

Morgan:  I can't see part of the pack!  Alert!  Alert!  (By this point, she's spinning in circles.)

Mr. Taleteller:  Morgan!  Calm down!

Blueberry:  And they say that I'm embarrassing on walks!

Morgan:  Don't just stand there!  Send out a search party!  Bunny and Mom are missing!  Oh my God!  This is disaster!

Mr. Taleteller:  Well, you'd still have me, you know!

Morgan:  (pausing to stare at him)  Have you gone mad?!  We're not all together!

Me:  Morgan, what are you doing?

Morgan:  Oh, thank God!  I thought I was going to have to become a search and rescue dog right here on the spot!  Are you both okay?  Were you abducted by aliens?  What happened?!

Bunny:  We were only missing for like, three seconds...

Morgan:  Bunny!!!  Oh, thank gosh!  I was so worried!  Let me sniff you!

Mr. Taleteller:  Can we go now?

Morgan:  Yes!  Let's get everyone home!  It's not safe out here!  The aliens could get us all again!

Heaven help us when Bunny gets separated from Morgan.  She is not happy about it -- at all!  As soon as Bunny walked up to her, her tail went wild and she had to walk around her and give her a thorough check over.   In return, Bunny didn't show her teeth at her or growl.  She fell into step beside Morgan and kept looking at me with an expression that I'm sure was like the rest of us, save Morgan.  Bunny's face said "What's the big deal?" while Morgan's said "Oh, I'm so happy!  Together again at last!"  Someday, they're going to be good friends.  When that happens, we're in trouble! 
We're participating in the Pet Blog Hot again this weekend. If you'd like to join in, it's pretty simple. Add your link into the McLinky tool and copy and paste the code into your html editor. We're very thankful to Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confesssions of the Plume for hosting the blog hop every weekend!



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45 comments:

  1. Morgan, keep up the good work. You just never know when those aliens might show up again!

    Drools and licks,
    Minnie and sometimes Mack

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  2. Oh, I'm sure Morgan and Bunny are going to end up being partners in crime before too long:-) Then look out! It took nearly 4 months before Frankie started looking to make sure his big sister was following him when he raced outside. She's always there:-) That's when I knew she really is part of our family.

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  3. Well cone, Morgan! You just showed everyone how loyalty and alert you're. I'm sure Bunny understands now!!!

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  4. Well done Morgan for watching out for your family.

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  5. What a great story. I think you will be in trouble if they all gang up on you!

    Nubbin' wiggles,
    Oskar

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  6. Oh my dog! you are experiencing a "real" GSD! that's very common for a GSD. very. Loki's pack drive is INSANE. I couldn't even do a leash handoff at class to anyone BUT a trainer who could handle him because he'd get soooo worried. and even if Mr. WD handles him, he's nuts if I or Juno are out of sight (say to use the rest room or something). Very typical. very.

    one thing you can do to minimize it is immediately start walking AWAY from the thing causing anxiety. yes, walking AWAY from missing Bunny and Mom. just slowly. anytime the GSD gets anxious, always use the "eject button" on handling it. eject = walk away. just walk. say nothing and walk. don't make a big deal. if you do, they think it's a big deal. over time the panic attacks will calm and will be over quickly if they have them.

    the other day Mr. WD and I were walking the dogs and I handed Mr. WD loki's leash so i could pick up his poo. when he hands the leash back to me, Loki jumped up, gave a quick yip and then leaned into my legs. in the old days he'd be frantic, causing a HUGE scene even with that little separation. even if it's Mr. WD (who I swear he likes better than me) holding his leash. what i do is typically ignore it and don't talk to him. i turn away if he jumps and ignore all idiocy. and just start walking. also, when i went to try out a new bike, Loki went ballistic as mr. WD held his leash. So i told him to walk Loki AWAY from me. keeping me in sight just makes it worse. he walked out of sight and he calmed down. the walking helps lower anxiety. so jut walk AWAY from the stressor. (yes, even if it means going further away from bunny). so there you have it. GSD's pack drive. WELCOME to a GSD's whacko mentals!

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  7. It is a good thing they have you Morgan, one never knows when aliens will appear with abduction on thier minds!

    Lu-Lu & Lucius

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  8. Hey Bunny - make sure you visit my blog today ...I have a little surprise for you.

    Your pal, Pip

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  9. Morgan, meet Kiska. No GSD there, but oh, must the pack stay together. No hyper dancing. Just a Siberian scream of horror. Most enjoyable to innocent (and, henceforth, deaf) witnesses.

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  10. Hey, it's their job, ma'am. Just doing her job. You don't want to get eaten by wolves do you? I thought not. Hey, I like the pack to stay together, too. When we go somewhere I very much prefer it if no one leaves to use the ladies' room or anything. You don't find me doing that, after all.

    lotsa licks, Lola

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  11. What a great post - and we are so happy to hear the pack is bonding so well. Mom says she would love it if Phantom would be lagging behind her - he is always full steam ahead.

    Have a great weekend.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  12. Our dogs are exactly the same way but, of course, R is much more driven to keep us all together. He barks, shrieks, sits and refuses to move, and makes a huge scene if we try to go in separate directions.

    I think that Bunny and Morgan are going to be best buddies. Your stories all point that way!

    We're OK over here although completely emotionally wrung out. It was a close and very scary fire. When you get orders to "get out immediately" - the stress hormone levels go through the roof!

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  13. We enjoyed this post too, and know how good it feels when your pack starts falling into place!!

    Smileys & Snuggles!
    Dory, Bilbo and Jacob

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  14. Awww. Morgan was worried that she'd never see Bunny again! That is so sweet!

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  15. Hi! We are visiting from the blog hop! I hope we can be friends.

    This was a great post!

    Sam

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  16. I know all about that pack thing. I HATE it when Toby goes somewhere without me--even to the vet. It's fun to be with your pack and everyone is together, especially when there's the threat of aliens!

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  17. Morgan's right, you can never be too careful about those aliens!! It's nice to see that maybe a sibling friendship is developing here!!

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  18. Hey Morgan!
    Great job of patroling and protecting the pack! I'm impressed. What a great pix of you and Bunny. You sure are beauties and are two good-lookers. Glad you watch out for each other.
    Grr and Woof,
    Sarge

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  19. What a great post! My mom is fascinated by about pack dynamics! And Wild Dingo's comment was interesting considering my GSD roots.

    Sounds like Bunny and Morgan will be best friends in no time!

    Wags,
    Zona

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  20. This sounds like a walk at our house!?! Happy Blog Hop!!
    Kelly & Crew
    Big Mac, Molly & Moxie
    angelpupscreations.blogspot.com

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  21. Gosh, it sounds like it's very much an adventure living with one of those shepherd dogs. I'm glad that the pack was reunited and that Morgan didn't actually call 911. You should prolly not give her her own cell phone.

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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  22. Take lots of photos to remember this day by BOL We're Murphy believers here as well.
    Seriously, hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. On our end, we got ALL the cats together three days ago. Lots of hissing and growling...Be glad you're all dogs!
    Twinkie

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  23. cute story...ahhh Morgan we see you really like that kid..
    Benny & Lily

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  24. I've never heard pee-mail before, hee hee. Those pack instincts... just like any crazy family!

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  25. Well done Morgan, great job!

    take care
    Clive and Murray

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  26. Hi Bunny! Thank you for visiting my new blog. It's a little scary, but I think I'll enjoy it if I approach it with a spirit of fun. I always enjoy reading about your adventures with your sisters and 2-leggers!! <3

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  27. Sure Morgan was worried when she did not see you and your mom, Bunny!
    Happy Saturday!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  28. hihi!!
    i'm back from vaca and stuff finally! i have totally missed ya'll! it's good to be back. :)
    well, i totally think that miss morgan is doing a very super awesome job watching over her pack! she's just trying to make sure everybuddy is okie dokie cuz those alien abduction thingies are pretty scary from what i've heard. btw, i get really anxious like when i can't see my big sis asa, too.

    *woof*
    the booker man

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  29. That was a wonderful story! So very sweet!

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  30. Ahhh that is so sweet. I wish someone would miss me!! Way to go Morgan and bunny.
    norwood

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  31. Hi Bunny,
    I am so dumb, I can't remember how to do the cut and paste thingy. I did it with help two weeks ago and now it just left my mind!!!
    GSD 's are very pack dogs!!! I had two at one time in my life. I loved your post!!!!! I just love you guys, Fern

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  32. I think Bunny and Morgan are going to become great friends and probably partners in crime. LOL

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  33. Oh Morgan, how sweet of you! I love that about your personality. Bunny you are lucky to have such a great friend. You will see. =)

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  34. Morgan is the alpha doggie? that was pretty sweet of her to do a head count.. who knows you know.. safety first... always :)

    hope you are having a great weekend!
    woofs & licks,
    Bunny

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  35. Hi all,

    Gosh we loved this post and we found Wild Dingo's comments really educational and interesting. One of our best pals is Lily, a gorgeous GSD girl, but when we meet her on a walk and she's missing one of her humans she's constantly on the look out for them just in case the arrive and we can see she's not totally relaxed. The explanation about the pack mentality of GSDs has really helped us understand our friend a bit more.

    This is why we LOVE blogging, we find out so much as well as getting to meet some great pups and peeps!

    Max is a little like Morgan - he gets very stressed if he feels his pack is out of sync, but not to such a great extreme.

    Schnauzer snuggles - JD and Max.

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  36. Once you are done with your headcount, then you'll know how many entries you will come up with for the Show Us Your Tongue contest. One per family member pretty please. Happy Sunday and Happy National Dog Week :)
    Twinkie

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  37. Hopped on over from the Pet Blogger Hop, glad I did, love the head count post, too funny. I am following you through GFC , Facebook and Networked Blogs (Nadine E Larsen) and twitter (@eyzofblu63) what can I say, I am nosy, I have to keep up on on the latest

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  38. I always find it amazing how very very different the various breeds of dogs are. I've heard so many stories of pack-oriented dogs (usually herding dogs of some stripe, come to think of it) and how obsessed they are with keeping everyone together and in view.

    Argos is like that with US, but I don't know how he'd react if we had another dog. Ahem. Not that we're thinking of getting a second dog. Not at all.

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  39. We're not? I saw you looking at the Meet'n'Greet…

    (I'm betting by the end of the year.)

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  40. Stopping by on the blog hop... happy Sunday!

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  41. Golly, kind of obsessed, eh? Morgan needs a chill pill. But it is nice that she and Bunny are good pals. Such an interesting pack you have there.

    Slobbers,
    mango

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  42. Loved it. Pee Mail.... heh heh heh

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  43. Thanks for finding time to jump into both hops - I've been keeping you busy! ♥

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