Ok, so I had a memorable moment with my dog, Marley.
We were out walking and I was throwing the ball for her. She's on the leash most of the time, but when we're throwing the frisbee/ball/stick I just let her go - the leash dragging the ground behind her when she runs.
We're going back inside when she notices a bunch of geese down the hill by the lake and takes off. I yell for her to stop, but she's in chase mode - bleh. Geese, squirrels, deer, cats and anything that runs from her she'll chase - and this is important - if *she* thinks its safe. I've seen her listen to me before and stop chasing a cat into a street when she saw cars coming, but then later she'll run right out into a street because she knows there aren't any cars. Too smart and stubborn for her own good.
The lake is partially frozen, and she's been out on the ice before so its nothing new - however, geese are a lot lighter than her 50 lbs - so when she gets near the leading edge of the ice - about 150 ft from shore - the obvious thing happens - and no amount of yelling from me made any difference. Although I imagine everyone in the neighborhood heard me yelling
So now she's swimming in 32 degree water, with a collar and leash dangling from her neck, whining, trying to crawl back on the ice. I'm happy to now realize I handled it pretty well - didn't really think about what to do at the time, just did it. I ran to a neighbors to possibly get their row boat, but it didn't have oars and was too heavy, called both immediate neighbors to see if they were home (both were out - figures) and then ran up the hill to my garage where our canoe was parked for the winter. Got some oars, and set an all time record for the 200m canoe drag. Down the hill and running across a couple lawns to a neighbors dock a few doors down since they were the closest with open water, I threw the canoe in the water and put on a life vest. I paddled back around and over to where Marley was and at first she didn't want to come in the canoe, but then after another failed attempt at getting back on the ice, she swam over. I pulled her in and got soaked and cold at the same time and paddled back to shore.
Bleh - well, now she's officially a member of the Canine Polar Bears Club. And she's sleeping behind me in my office now - exhausted and clean (got a warm shower when I brought her back inside).
I need a beer....
D
We were out walking and I was throwing the ball for her. She's on the leash most of the time, but when we're throwing the frisbee/ball/stick I just let her go - the leash dragging the ground behind her when she runs.
We're going back inside when she notices a bunch of geese down the hill by the lake and takes off. I yell for her to stop, but she's in chase mode - bleh. Geese, squirrels, deer, cats and anything that runs from her she'll chase - and this is important - if *she* thinks its safe. I've seen her listen to me before and stop chasing a cat into a street when she saw cars coming, but then later she'll run right out into a street because she knows there aren't any cars. Too smart and stubborn for her own good.
The lake is partially frozen, and she's been out on the ice before so its nothing new - however, geese are a lot lighter than her 50 lbs - so when she gets near the leading edge of the ice - about 150 ft from shore - the obvious thing happens - and no amount of yelling from me made any difference. Although I imagine everyone in the neighborhood heard me yelling
So now she's swimming in 32 degree water, with a collar and leash dangling from her neck, whining, trying to crawl back on the ice. I'm happy to now realize I handled it pretty well - didn't really think about what to do at the time, just did it. I ran to a neighbors to possibly get their row boat, but it didn't have oars and was too heavy, called both immediate neighbors to see if they were home (both were out - figures) and then ran up the hill to my garage where our canoe was parked for the winter. Got some oars, and set an all time record for the 200m canoe drag. Down the hill and running across a couple lawns to a neighbors dock a few doors down since they were the closest with open water, I threw the canoe in the water and put on a life vest. I paddled back around and over to where Marley was and at first she didn't want to come in the canoe, but then after another failed attempt at getting back on the ice, she swam over. I pulled her in and got soaked and cold at the same time and paddled back to shore.
Bleh - well, now she's officially a member of the Canine Polar Bears Club. And she's sleeping behind me in my office now - exhausted and clean (got a warm shower when I brought her back inside).
I need a beer....
D
