Gabbie has a boo-boo

Gabbie had a cyst removed from her right rear leg, a boo-boo in kid-speak. She can be outside only with a leash for a week or so until the incision heals. This means limited mobility for her and temporary loss of a playmate for Tessie.

Normally we let them out, they go tearing out the door to explore and to protect the perimeter of our home from invaders, imagined or otherwise. Now,Gabbie waits to lunge outside, but submits very reluctantly to the leash being attached. Tess races out only to come back to look inquisitively at her restrained friend. Gabbie looks at me the same way - as if to say "WHAT is going on here?"



Can't you see I want to play now?

It's also much slower going walking on the trail than they are used to. Gabbie can't chase after squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and other wildlife. Tess makes the effort halfheartedly, knowing the Gabbie is not with her. She often glances at us and Gabbie.

She stays close to Gabbie, sensing that something is not right. Fortunately, this will pass in a few days. Soon they'll be playing, sprinting after wildlife, making unauthorized incursions into neighboring yards, and occasionally rolling in poop. Ah, the life of a dog.

Paul and Judy from North Dakota visited yesterday. They claimed to have a business purpose for their visit, but they really want to see our Old English Sheepdogs (OES to save keystrokes). They have an OES big boy puppy, Bentley Bear IV. They miss their dog and lit up when Gabbie and Tess burst outside and made our guests suitably welcome with incessant licking, herding, and pawing. We together recounted the dogs' antics and characteristics. And there were recollections about pets of yesteryear.

I realized how much enjoyment they bring to us despite episodes of extreme annoyance. Gabbie and Tess are sitting beneath my office chair demanding to critique this post before it is published. Ain't gonna happen, girls.