Making New Friends, Plus a Little Recreational Digging

We headed south for Easter this year, and while we were there, Henry met a couple of new friends – a dachshund and a dachshund mix. Plus he got to see his buddy, a possible Ridgeback mix.

Henry and “Big Dog” are old friends. They knew each other before Henry came to live with me, and it seems Henry respects him more than any other dog (or human). All it takes is one firm bark from Big Dog to shut Henry up. It's truly a miraculous thing to witness.

By the time we left, Henry and the dachshund were playing pretty well. She's quick, sassy, and adept at leaping onto laps for cover -- and to conduct some friendly taunting.

I was very happy and relieved by how Henry got along so well with the new dogs. Sure, there was some jealousy because both Henry and the dachshund considered R their person, but they worked that out in a reasonable, canine fashion.

So, since he'd been behaving and had managed not to eat any sand or a single carcass, I let him dig when he found a spot where he was sure a treasure was buried. He dug and dug until he was exhausted.

And luckily, I got him cleaned up just before the water went off!

Opportunity Wasted

We visit my dad regularly, and he has a very large fenced enclosure which would be the perfect place for Henry to practice jumping.

There is, however, one problem. Or rather, many problems.

Birds.

Birds in the bushes, birds at the birdfeeders just outside the fence, and – most tempting of all – birds flying from the bushes on one side over the fenced yard to the birdfeeders.

Not even cubes of hot dog can compete with that.

So usually it goes something like this: I drag the jumps out and fetch the bait, Henry commences bird-chasing, I play with Blitz (who is completely attentive), and then Henry sees Blitz getting treats and breezes through and does the jumps once, grabs a treat, and goes back to tormenting the birds.

Spectating, and...Um...Buying

I'm back from watching my first agility trial this weekend. Wow, I learned a lot. Perhaps the greatest lesson is to avoid the vendors, as their wares are far too tempting.

(not pictured: Henry's new leather collar)

I was feeling rather stupid about the fuzzy mat thingy because Henry's initial reaction was to treat it as a chew toy. But then I walked in the bedroom and saw this, so I think we're going to be OK: