Rabbits Aren't For Herding

Sunday night found us out on our usual evening walk.  The new routine consists of Bunny walking with me and Morgan and Blueberry walking with Mr. Taleteller.  He insists on walking both girls most of the time because he feels that Blue is his girl and will feel sleighted if he doesn't walk her along with Morgan.  Blueberry is such a mellow walker that this arrangement has turned out pretty well.

So, there we were Sunday night, strolling along as usual.  Bunny and Blueberry have been more subdued walkers lately, I suspect because of the heat.  Morgan is a schizophrenic walker.  When she walks with Mr. Taleteller in the morning, she doesn't pull, but she gives a short warning growl until he tells her to knock it off and behave.  In the evening when we walk together, she pulls like she could be a sled dog, but ignores everyone that we pass along the way.  She's not unmagageable, by any means, but she is an eighteen month old puppy who hasn't been taught certain manners.  Fortunately, she's a very quick study.  I don't think it will be long at all before she's walking very nicely beside both of us.

Anyhow, Sunday evening found us working our way towards home.  It wasn't terribly hot, but it was pretty humid, so we were walking at a pretty leisurely pace.  Morgan took the lead, with Blueberry lagging behind Mr. Taleteller in her usual homeward-bound fashion.  Bunny and I were behind them.  That's when it happened.

I heard Mr. Taleteller shout out something brief that sounded like "Oh shit" and Blueberry did a back step towards Bunny and me.  Morgan leaped up in the air like a wild stallion, did a spin in the air in a move that would have impressed any Matrix fan and landed right in the middle of the neighbors' very nicely trimmed shrubbery.  Bunny's ears flickered and she did a little snort that I believe translates from Greyhoundese as "amateur" while Blueberry gave me a look that said "please don't let anyone know I'm attached to this pony show".  I snickered and offered to take Blueberry with me while Mr. Taleteller worked at lifting his dog out of the shrubbery.  Blueberry walked along with me gratefully and pretended that she did not see Morgan the rest of the way home.

It was too late at night for anyone to see us, fortunately.  Most of our neighbors go to bed rather early.  It was nice to be a spectator at this version of the German Shepherd rodeo.  I'm actually not sure which part was funnier, Mr. Taleteller's face or Morgan's.  I think I'm glad that the Greyhounds are over the foolish rabbits this year and have moved on to squirrels as their latest obsession.  I do think that if we are ever out somewhere and the dogs are off leash together that there will be some rabbits in serious trouble.  Morgan has the skills to flush them out and Bunny has the speed and drive to catch them when they take off.  I'm glad they haven't become a team of mighty huntresses yet, but I suspect it could be coming.

Rabbits, beware!

Stealth Powers -- Activate!

Bunny here, writing about a new issue that has come up on our afternoon walks.

I think it's great that Dad and Blueberry have decided to join us on our walks.  I happen to think they need it, but it's cramping my style a bit.  You may recall that I am a mighty huntress.  I don't have much to watch for when the weather is cold, but suddenly, I sense my nemisis is out there.  As we were walking this afternoon, I suddenly felt the call of my inner wolf and I knew that I had to hunt.

It started out just fine, we were all walking along and enjoying the sights and sounds of the weather warming up.  Mom and Dad were talking about things from work and Blueberry and I were checking posts and rocks for pee mail.  That was all well and good, but then we entered the park.  The park is a big open space with sidewalks and places for humans to have fun.  It's my favorite part of our walk.  I've found toads there by the bridge before, but my leash kept my from catching one. 

Today, as we entered the park, I went into stealth mode.  My feet moved deliberately with no toenail clicks.  My ears were up.  My body was poised for flight.  Even my tags stopped jingling.  I was ready for a rabbit or squirrel to take his chances.  My odds for catching one today would have been great except for one thing.  Mom and Dad just kept talking.  Blueberry's tags kept jingling.  They went on and on about how intent I was on the prize. 

Mom:  Oh, Bunny looks so cute!  I see she's on the hunt!

Dad:  Did you see something, little one?

Me:  Be very, very quiet!  I'm hunting rabbits!

Mom:  It's too early for rabbits!

Dad:  Bunny, that's a guy on a bike!

Me:  Shush!  I can take it down!

Mom:  Bunny, those are leaves!

Dad:  I guess she thinks she'll get a cat!

Me:  You are completely ruining the moment!

To my dismay, the only things we did see today were a guy on a bike, some kids playing, a dog on a walk, a lot of blowing leaves and a cat.  Well, that's all my people saw!  I am a sighthound.  They have no idea all the rabbits they missed out there!  Just you wait, rabbits!  I'm watching!