My Vimy, my dog, is very social. Like his mistress. No surprise there anyway. He loves to meet other dogs. Totally understandable. Dogs are pack animals, yadda yadda yadda. I am just setting the scene for what transpired. :)
I was chatting with some neighbours, on my way to watch the fireworks for Canada Day. I had Vimy on his retractable leash. He was patiently sniffing around their yard. They commented on how sweet and well behaved he was! Tao, a tiny little dog, the size of my hand, I swear to God, was nearby, with his owner, who diligently kept him in her arms whenever there were any other dogs around, because Tao is terrified of any and all dogs. Tao is a tiny, tiny chihuahua. His owner and I had chatted earlier. Well, she was in the parking lot not far from the driveway where I was standing, when she decided to put Tao down so he could run around a little. Vimy saw that Tao was free, and like a bat out of hell, took off after him. I had NO warning. He literally flew across the lawn, with me in tow, desperately trying to hold on and rein him in. The handle of the umbrella I was carrying, got HOOKED into the handle of the leash. Vimy was about to rip my arm off in his pursuit of Tao. I had to let the leash go. I ran after Vimy, yelling at him to stop; he was running after Tao, who kept running around madly in circles, around the parking lot, barking his head off, while his owner tried to retrieve him. It was TOTAL BEDLAM! To that add the noise of the plastic retractable handle bumping furiously around the parking lot, AND through mud puddles, and you have a pretty good picture in your mind. My hot pursuit of Vimy, (Thank God I still jog now and then!) resulted in my stepping on the handle, just as poor little Tao dashed up the steps of another house (NOT HIS OWN!), seeking refuge. His owner followed close behind. Into the house they scurried. I never saw them again. Vimy was duly punished, but in two minutes he was back up, having a good time with two other dogs who had since shown up. Apparently, the whole episode was heard half way up the street! All the neighbours standing around who witnessed the show, were doubled over with laughter.
With all this excitement, Vimy is noticeably more antsy and anxious. A few minutes later, as we are milling around on the lawn by the water, Vimy mistakes my good friend's blue capris pant leg, for some kind of POST, and decides to relieve himself on HER! She didn't notice until I told her. I HAD to! She was very good natured about it though. I am way past embarrassed by this point. Normally I would be TOTALLY MORTIFIED! I just know another axe is about to fall; Vimy is on a roll. I just can't put my finger what that roll will be.
It is now dusk and the fireworks have been delayed. Vimy is sitting quietly beside me, his paws crossed. He seemed to have finally settled down, and stopped playing with the other dogs, so I take off his leash. No sooner said than done, BIG MISTAKE! The fireworks suddenly start up with a huge BOOM, and Vimy takes off, AGAIN!
He runs all over the place, zigzagging, TERRIFIED OF THE NOISE, and with me IN HOT PURSUIT ONCE AGAIN. ALL to no avail. I spend ten minutes chasing him from one neighbour's back yard, into another, as he tries to hide. He wends his way home, ending up at our door, panting, sitting and waiting anxiously for me to open the door and let him in. He is so frightened, poor thing. I arrive panting myself, but I don't have the key, nor his leash. Both are back at the fireworks place. Thankfully, the car isn't locked, so I grab an extra leash, and coax Vimy back down to the viewing area. When we get there, he promptly hides under my chair. I look up at two beautiful displays, one right after the other, and... the show is over! The fireworks show that is.
I hope the other "Vimy" show is over too, because I am pooped! We both go home to bed and sleep for nine hours. That alone is a miracle. Someday soon, I will go over and apologize to Tao's owner.
You know how dogs mark their territory. They pee on a post, on a bush or better yet, on a pant leg. Goes I'm part of his territory now. LOL
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