Yesterday was my birthday and I pretty much swore off the computer for the day, though I did check in to read all the birthday wishes. Thank you to everyone who remembered the big event. Having turned 29 once again - I'm sure that accomplishment constitutes "momentous". <eg>
I started the day with another therapy dog class at 10 a.m. Gimme did very well, much better than last time. She even managed to ignore the young BC that fell in love with her and kept trying to come see her. He unfortunately could barely function and his lack of focus was quite frustrating for his person. Gimme just turned her nose up at him; she has her Lancelot and has no interest in the amorous intentions of anyone else.
Following class was the chiropractor, which was much needed after a weekend doing yard work at my parents'. Met the glass repair guy there, who declared my windshield unrepairable. Fortunately, over the weekend, the crack took a turn south, so at least I can put off a replacement for a good long time.
Two more errands - one to Cabela's to buy ultra loud whistles and the other to Costco. I splurged on a rotisserie chicken. Love those, but don't normally buy them.
Then home to goof off and watch TV, lounging on the couch and eating chicken. Gimme helped me by laying beside me and drooling.
At 6:00 we met up with Mary and Grafton at a local elementary school for a nosework field trip. Grafton hasn't done nosework anywhere, except home and class. So when we had class at Home Depot, he found it very challenging. So we are giving him some field trips in conjunction with our walks. This is the second time and he did better, though he is finding the new setting and the carrying-on of his girlfriend in my car, quite a lot of distraction. Next time we'll do Gimme first, so she'll be quiet when he's working.
Gimme did well. The hide in the rock wall she found in decent time. The hide in the pipe proved challenging, since it was a small pipe and the other end was closed. The one under a leaf near the portables she just rocketed to.
After that we went to the Fort Lewis training areas for a 4 mile walk. On Saturday I met a couple at area 22 and they said that recently when they were riding with their one dog (Gimme sized)... their dog was right behind the horses, when a coyote came out of the woods toward it. Their dog cowered down and the coyote was standing over it and poised to attack when they were able to drive it away. As they looked where it went they could see all the brush moving and what appeared to be as many as ten coyote in a pack.
Coyote are known to send out a "scout" that will attempt to lure a dog to where the other coyote are waiting to attack. Gimme would be likely to follow a single coyote. I'm not sure if the presence of both Gimme and Grafton (50 pounds) would be enough to keep them away. I read online a report of coyote attacking two large dogs in a suburban area (Illinois). Right now mated pairs are raising young and they can have from 1 - 19 in a single litter. Further online research says that the WA coyote sightings this year are on a sharp rise compared to last year.
The whole reason for going out there has been so the dogs can run and play off leash and snoop and sniff like dogs. Mary and I have revised our Ft Lewis walking habits with Gimme and Grafton, sticking to the open areas, especially during this time of year. I'll only be using the training areas when Grafton and Mary are able to come, otherwise I'll walk with Gimme in other places.
We'll only let the dogs off leash in the most open areas - especially now as coyote are raising their young and tend to maintain a pack structure and get bolder as they try to feed more mouths. When we are walking on roads with trees on both sides, the dogs will be on leash for their safety, to keep them from following any scout coyote and because the coyote would be unlikely to come that close (within leash distance) to humans. Mary is bringing her walking poles and I'll be making a walking stick. We'll both have pepper spray and I picked up some very loud whistles at Cabelas. The prevailing wisdom is that coyote look for easy prey and will back off if you act big and intimidating, making noise, etc.
Our walk was uneventful and enjoyable. Gimme fortunately has never shown inclination to go into the woods. Over the last month I noticed she is sticking closer to me (especially when we walk alone) and I just assumed I'd somehow conditioned that, but now am wondering if she has smelled the coyote and is thinking to stay away from the woods and closer to Mom for safety. She and Grafton play a lot, but between bouts of play she sticks pretty close to Mary and me. We called the dogs any time they went out of sight (Grafton kept snooping in the tall scotch broom). We also called them in any time we were going over a rise or around a bend where we couldn't see what lay ahead. We were on the pipeline, so the whole walk was pretty open. We started accustoming the dogs to the whistles and also conditioning them as a recall cue.
I got the whistles since we could easily make a lot of noise, even if panic took our voices away. It certainly took nothing at all to turn us both into Mama Bears, ready to protect our kids.
After the walk I stopped at Albertsons and treated myself to a pint of Ben and Jerry's Vanilla Creme Broule' ice-cream. Sadly I had to give up all my favorite B&J chocolate flavors, since they all have wheat in them. The one I chose was pretty good. Then spent the rest of the evening lounging on the couch eating my ice cream with Meaggi helping me by laying at my side and drooling.
Life is good with dogs who are so helpful.
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