Houdini Dog

Sunday, October 06, 2024

Soon after I left for work yesterday, my dog escaped his new escape-proof kennel. He immediately visited my neighbors, Frank and Annette, who brought him home. They got the now-resisting dog into his new kennel and re-secured its too-loose door.

When I returned home from work, Chase was in that kennel and perched atop his Igloo. Thanks again to great neighbors, Chase didn’t become lost or harmed in vehicle traffic.

We’re closer to confining Chase safely when I’m away from home. Today, I will secure his kennel door. He’s very smart, strong, and determined, and it’s a toss-up to him finding new ways of escaping.

I an concentrating on taking everything one day at a time.

My donkey Pimmy is on a diet. She’s losing weight and looking good. I’ve not yet moved my dwarf goat Breeze into the barn with Pimmy. One reason is that Breeze isn’t on a diet and needs separate feeding, which isn’t worked out. Another reason is that my two horses often enter the barn, and they must be pre-introduced to its newest resident.

Lots of thinking and too little action–simply, one day at a time.

Dear Friends: Now it’s a new day to solve old problems and face new ones. Diana

Worries To Rest

Friday, October 04, 2024

A considerable problem is solved: my puppy Chase won’t again escape a new “inescapable kennel” where he will stay when I must leave home. His driving instinct to follow me triggers escaping skills, which he specializes in.

Thanks to a bit of luck, and special thanks to my kind neighbors, Frank and Annette. They have sometimes rescued Chase, brought him home, and re-locked him into my big, sturdy kennel. (For many years, that structure was inescapable by dogs, but recently, Chase–super athletic and too-smart–managed to escape.)

The solution was a happenstance. Down by the barn near my chicken coop stood a wire structure where I occasionally isolated hens needing special attention. That structure has been unused for many months. It’s fully enclosed with wire, with a human-size walk-through wire door, and roofed completely by heavy wire. It looked perfect for safely and securely enclosing Chase but needed to be dismantled, relocated, and reset onto a concrete base.

That structure is large enough to accommodate a dog’s movement and would fit inside my larger standalone structure, which Chase escapes now.

My kind neighbors donated their time and turned the possibilities into a reality. Frank and Annette dismantled the structure, loaded its sections into their pickup, and moved everything uphill. They reassembled the new dog kennel inside the big standalone. We all viewed the result as inescapable.

The new kennel is set securely on a concrete base. Heavy stall mats laid over the concrete increase residents’ comfort. Finally, Chase will be secured; he’ll be in an inescapable smaller kennel within a safe and larger enclosure.

Dear Friends: I cannot begin to adequately describe my enormous relief. Diana

Still Chasing

Thursday, October 03, 2024

My puppy from hell, Chase, has figured out how to escape his escape-proof kennel, and he did that twice yesterday. I was at work when my neighbors let me know that Chase was running loose. They kindly captured the dog, returned him to his kennel, and repaired the spot where Chase had managed to exit.

Arriving home for lunch, I found my doggoned dog, again loose, bounding happily down the driveway and greeting me. A glance at his kennel revealed that he escaped by breaking through a “corner guard” opposite another corner guard he had broken through and my neighbors had repaired.

That escape-proof kennel is large—10′ x 20′. It is set on a concrete base surrounded by heavy wire fencing 6′ high, and its door is lockable. Over the years, I’ve kenneled many dogs there, and until now, none have managed to escape.

Chase is 2 1/2 years old and a mixed breed. When I adopted him, he was an adorable 8 weeks old. His rescuer promised he’d stay tiny because she’d seen his small parents.

Liar!

Chase has grown to 50+ lbs. and is visibly a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix (among other genes). His genes promote muscular strength and sheer-dogged determination. He specializes in leaping highly and digging unstoppable. Worst, he can climb up and over wire fencing.

As long as I’m at home, Chase may run loosely in the dogs’ sizeable common area but must go into the escape-proof kennel when I’m to drive away. My departures trigger his escape button. He has often managed to dig his way out of the common dog area, which is why he’s kenneled separately. For many months, the big kennel has kept him safely confined.

Finally, Chase managed to figure out a way of getting loose. I’m disappointed but not overly surprised because, clearly, he’s always thinking.

Today, I will try to out-clever this dog (again somehow) by escape-proofing the standalone kennel.

Dear Friends: I must keep Chase safe and never raise another puppy. Diana

LOL

Friday, April 11, 2024

Yesterday was National Dog Day, and I didn’t post photos of my dogs. Today is National Hamster Day, and I haven’t one of those pets. Years ago, I adopted a sweet Peruvian Guinea Pig from an animal rescue. His coat was very long and needed trimming regularly, or else, formed into rolls and grew into dreadlocks.

The guinea pig was a cute little fellow. He and my bunny, Speedo, were each pleasant pets. Speedo was a domestic white that turned up loose, hopping on my property and nibbling hay in my barn. Using an apple as bait, I trapped Speedo, and he became a house bunny. The sweet guy had been litter-box trained by somebody.

While I was thinking about interesting sorts of pets, George Rodrigue’s “Blue Dog” images began appearing in my FB feed. Years ago, I spent a week in New Orleans and I discovered The Blue Dog Gallery. Rodrigue’s sense of humor delighted me, and wow, still does.

Rodrigue, an excellent artist, snuck the Blue Dog into his larger, serious paintings. The dog always looking out of place and bewildered. This example is “Millenium 2000.”

Notice the dog has wings, is a butterfly out of place physically, and trying to process mentally.

Many Rodrigue paintings include his dog character, always out of place, trying to process.

I saw Rodriguez’s Blue Dog as representing elements of himself. Also, that dog represents an element of ourselves.

On a lofty side, we are that dog while viewing and interpreting works of art. Also, in daily living, we are that dog, for being in today’s world and attempting to comprehend the predictable vs. the unpredictable.

I enjoyed the art and that dog, but couldn’t afford a painting. Still, I barely managed to resist.

Rodrigue passed recently and that increases the value of his art. While value is a consideration, to me, his works represent more. They reflect much about ourselves.

Beyond the artist’s humor and insight, his Blue Dog is all of us, in all our whimsy.

Dear Friends: Here’s to enjoying a chuckle at ourselves. Diana

Remembering “Mable”

Wednesday, April 03, 2024

For me, this is a new one: World Rat Day (happening tomorrow).

Recently, I began following on FB some fancy-rat owners who have trained their pets to “do agility.” They capably photograph and video the cute and appealing creatures, maybe carrying a toy, navigating an agility course, or as a still life.

Why am I interested in following people who keep rats as pets?

In my high school years, I brought home a white rat from the biology classroom to care for over two weeks of Christmas Holidays. I called that fun and affectionate creature “Mable” and quickly grew fond of her, often letting her run freely in my bedroom. She loved finding her way into my chest of drawers and chewed holes in clothing. I don’t remember feeling either relief or sadness on returning Mable to school, but over many years do remember her as a charmer.

Upon retiring to Central Oregon and living beyond the city limits on a small property, I learned about the local wild rats, known as “pack rats.” Named for collecting, or “packing around,” for their nests, various objects, and bits of material. Here’s my thing: pack rats are nuisances like all wild rat varieties, but they look cute and are appealing, with big whiskers, bright eyes, and busy trails. After trapping a pack rat, I take the caged critter to a BLM and release it.

Sometimes, I think about adopting a couple of neutered/spayed fancy rats. The upside is that they’re social, intelligent, low-maintenance, and fun. Also appealing is that rats have a shorter lifespan. On the downside, free time is required for providing companionship and training for pet rats; moreover, they’re primarily nocturnal and, for certain, are great chewers.

Dear Friends: Ahead of World Rat Day, sweet memories and some thoughts. Diana