He's done it again......

So, he's done it again. Thanks to (I'm sure you guessed it) Thumper, I'm now frequenting the chiropractors office.

It started a couple of weeks ago....this really irritating popping in my neck and headaches. Awful headaches. While reviewing my situation with the doc, he asked if I had been in any accidents or been jarred lately. Ha! That "jarred" my memory. I had definitely been jerked around by dear Thumper on a walk, when we happened upon 2 dachshunds hanging out (unleashed of course) with their human. Seriously, who lets little dogs with no leashes loiter in a street at 9:30 at night? Anyway, the dachshunds moved, Thumper caught sight of it, and then he lunged. Omg. Totally caught me off guard, because he had been acting like he was going to ignore them. Im really glad he didn't get the dachshunds. He looked really sorry for misbehaving when I finally got him back by me. I really hope the doc can make my neck normal again. Til then he's in time out! Lightning is enjoying Thumpers new status, I think.

I am such a good boy.  Aren't I, Mom?
Can we go for a walk?  I know how to heel like a good dog...we can leave Thumper here.

Sort of Monday Mischief

I've been trying to exercise more. I walk the dogs more and have started to run with them too. They have to be leashed since Thumper has no self control, so my walk / run really keeping up with Thumper. He is much faster than Lighthing and I would otherwise go. He believes he must always be in the lead....so my walk / run proceeds with him doing something like this (see picture below). yes, the picture is a bit blurry, but that is pretty much how these treks go. Happy Monday everyone!

Three Truths

Yesterday marked the first day in a LONG time that I got out with the dogs and took a walk.  I decided that with the slightly cooler days and lower humidity, it would be a great time to stop being a couch potato every evening.  So, I strapped Thumper into his harness, and Lightning into his leash, and we set off down the street.  Yes, I was walking the two dogs by myself.  Almost as soon as Thumper dragged me through the door, I realized that something was wrong with his harness.  It took a few blocks but I finally figured out what it was:  I put the darn thing on him backwards.  Instead of it providing me a good grip on him, he had a good grip on me, and he pulled me everywhere, and poor Lightning was just along for the ride.  Being the obedient dog, he stayed in heel position most of the time.  I'm sure he wondered why we took such a helter-skelter path around the neighborhood....

So, on this walk from hell, I realized three truths:

1.  I am really out of shape.  Of course I was dragging 110 pounds of dog with me, but still, I am really out of shape.

2.  Thumper is afraid of little kids, particularly boys.  I found this out when my neighbors' little boys yelled "Doggies!!!" and ran up to us.  The Daddy followed them, and asked (while patting Thumper's head), "Oh, when did you get this dog?  How hold is he?  He looks really young - and terrified!".  I looked down from talking to the Mom, and saw that Thumper had run to stand behind my legs.  He was peering around timidly at the youngest boy.   Yep, that's my big bad Thumper.  Scared of a 2 year old.  Lightning, meantime, was gathering as many pets as he could.

3.  Obedience training is so worth the time and effort.  And I need to invest some of that in Thumper.  This truth I realized as my right arm was numb from trying to reign Thumper in and my left arm felt fine because Lightning had been walking on that side.  

As we got near home (finally!),  I paused to talk to another neighbor, and her little ones rode their power wheels toy up to us.  One angelic looking little girl with curly blonde hair asked if she could pet Lightning.  I said yes, and she cautiously held her hand out, and he sniffed it and let her pet him.  Next thing I knew, she was hugging him.  Lightning was eating this up, leaning up against her and holding his ears back in a cute, puppyish kind of way.  The little girl then cautiously looked at Thumper (who was hiding behind my legs again), and looked back at Lightning.  Then she said, "This is the goodest dog, isn't it?", referring to Lightning.  I said yes, he is a good dog.  Then she pointed at Thumper at said, "And he's the baddest, huh?".  I explained that no, he's not bad.  He's just young and doesn't listen too well yet.   

After answering her, I realized that time is passing, and before long, that answer won't be true anymore.  He won't be a young and ill-mannered dog.  He'll just be an ill-mannered dog.  I think I've put off obedience training him because I love all the silly things he does, and once he's trained, I'm afraid he'll lose his silliness.  After the walk from hell, I think it's time to put those sentimental concerns aside and start the obedience training.  **sigh**  True to form - I think I'll start tomorrow...today, I want to enjoy the silliness.  :)