Saturday, April 24, 2010

Time sure flies...

Has it really been six years already?


Happy Anniversary Evan! I love you!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

There's hope after all!

Three years ago we made a seriously impulsive purchase and entered into the world of dog owners. We were sooooo not prepared for what would follow. Escapes, mischief, terrorizing the neighborhood, destruction of shoes, cell phones, delivery packages, flowerbeds, windshield wipers, furniture...the list goes on! (And it hasn't just been our possessions, either. Sorry neighbors!) I've been waiting patiently for the day everyone assured me would come...that she would calm down. I was told she'd calm down after getting spayed...that didn't happen. I've been told she'd calm down by the time she was one...that didn't happen. I've been told she'd calm down when she was eighteen months old...that didn't happen. I've been told she'd calm down if she had a playmate...that didn't happen. I was really beginning to lose my patience!

But this last week we saw a glimmer of hope! We went camping with my family in Southern Utah and brought Mesa along. We had forgotten her tie-out and we were concerned with keeping her under control, but it turns out our worries were not necessary. She was so well-behaved! She's such a curious dog, and we were worried that if we let her wander she'd wander right over to someone's camp and get into their gear, or worse-terrorize the little kids running around, but she didn't. She preferred wandering out in the fields, chasing ground squirrels and other critters, and the rest of the time she spent following Evan around. If he went into a camper, she'd plop herself down at the door and wait for him. If he went for a walk, she was right on his heels. If he was eating, she was sitting right at his feet. If I hadn't been there to witness it myself, I would never have believed it.

So this morning, I thought I'd try an experiment...walking her off the leash. Most of the Tooele canyon roads are closed for the winter, which provided me with a perfect traffic-free area away from neighborhoods to let her loose. I drove up til we reached the gates and let her run around. She ran all over those hills, sniffed out and followed deer tracks, splashed through a small stream of runoff water, and each time I whistled or called to her, she came running back to me. WHAT?? Is this really my dog? I sure hope this isn't a phase! I'm definitely going to take her back there. It must be a popular spot for dog owners, because on our way home I passed a few others walking with their dogs.



P.S. The trip up there served its purpose-she has been so worn out that she's slept most of the morning!