Hick went to town Wednesday morning before 8:00, to get a cable rig so Scarlett could run back and forth in the yard. Of course Walmart was out of that item. Hick didn't want to take the time to drive over to Bill-Paying Town to PetSmart, because they might also have been out. So he bought the next-best thing, which was a curlicue spike with a swivel on top. It works just as well, and gives Scarlett a large area to stretch her legs.
Hick said that at first, Scarlett romped around, enjoying her semi-freedom. By noon, she had settled down to lying in the grass, and coming to greet him when he walked over. Hick also mowed the yard. Scarlett was not a fan of the mower, and went as far away as her lead would allow. But when Hick would stop the mower and call to her, she would run over for a petting.
Jack made several visits. I went out to check on Scarlett in the early afternoon, because I finally heard her bark! She has a bit of a gruff voice. Lower than that of Jack or Juno, but not as deep as Copper Jack the neighbor dog. She was looking past the BARn field. Maybe she heard other dogs. Anyhoo... I got a few pictures from the porch. No good closeups. It's hard to catch lightning in a bottle!
Jack shows Scarlett who's the boss.
Scarlett shows Jack that she submits to his reign as top dog.
Copper Jack bemoans the loss of his best friend to the new gal in town.
On Thursday afternoon, Hick let Scarlett off her lead while I was running errands. We had not discussed this! He said at first, Scarlett meandered around the area of Shackytown Boulevard, and took a poop beside SilverRedO. Then she took off!
Of course Hick was worried. He got on the tractor and drove around our 10 acres next to the 10 acres we live on. Didn't see her. He drove the tractor back up the road, and saw Scarlett coming up the driveway of our across-the-road neighbors. She settled in beside the tractor and trotted along with Hick down our driveway. She got in front of the tractor, and Hick lowered the scoop thingy, which scared her and she veered away.
Hick said that Scarlett did NOT want to get reattached to the lead! But she came when he called her, and he got ahold of her collar. He said we could probably let her loose now, since she came back. I think it's still too early. Give her a few more days. She might have followed Jack's scent down that driveway. Or Hick said maybe she heard their dogs. Jack and Copper Jack were in our yard when Scarlett was loose, but they did not follow or interact.
We are quite besotted with our beautiful new girl!
She is so pretty and I had forgotten how handsome Jack is. Looks like they are going to be great friends.
ReplyDeleteI will share your compliments with them. Usually, Jack gets "You're so fat!" from the delivery people! He has lost a couple pounds since we no longer have Juno to try and fatten up.
DeleteAs a tiny pup, Jack was not a looker. I was reluctant to take one of HOS's (Hick's Oldest Son's) proffered pups. To be fair, I DID ask for the one with the shortest body and longest legs. He has grown up to be about the best you can expect from a dachshund mother and red heeler father.
She is beautiful, but I think a few more days on the leash is a good idea, then let her off while one of you is still there to call her back if she starts to run.
ReplyDeleteHick plans to turn Scarlett loose on Sunday. I'm hoping he means after he gets home from his Storage Unit Store, so he can be in the yard a while. My biggest fear is that somebody will take her. Hick already put her picture on the enclave's Facebook page. So if she just gets lost, somebody will probably tell Hick.
DeleteShe may run a bit to get away from the lead, but I suspect Hick knows what he is doing. Did not know about Juno, sorry, I hear she was sweet sweet.
ReplyDeleteHick just let her go about 10 minutes ago. She was romping in the yard with Jack, and I just saw her go around the porch to where we left her kennel. Pretty sure she didn't go in! I think she'll return, even if she goes exploring. She knows we feed her here. OOPS! HIck came in, and Scarlett just walked into the kitchen! Gotta learn the rules.
DeleteThanks for acknowledging my Sweet, Sweet Juno. I just mentioned it in passing here. Too sad to dwell on. She had a good 11 years, and her health was declining, so it was not a surprise.
She has a kind face. I could picture her in my bed with the other three! I am afraid to let mine outside their yard with the pitbulls and bears on the mountain, then I read that a man close by saw a cougar!! Eddie is very good without a leash and will only go so far away from me, the other two run like the wind. They come back, but I can't stand the thought of either of them becoming a victim.
ReplyDeleteYou would probably be kept awake by Scarlett walking laps around the mattress! The worst thing we have around here is coyotes, now that the neighbor doesn't let her killer poodle and crazy rottweiler run free.
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