Year end thoughts....

As I was walking with Dixie, before the sunrise, this morning, I was thinking about how fortunate I am to have this little dog and how much I enjoy our early morning walks! For the past 4 1/2 years, Dixie has been my constant companion and champion walking partner, through sickness and health and rain or shine, cold or heat! The early morning is about the best time of the day. Dixie is the best dog. He isn't always calm in quiet when he sees new people or goes new places, but he is very well behaved in the house and enjoys the company of me and my husband. Yes, he's spoiled by his "old folk" caretakers, but he gives back more than we could ask! Everyone should have a little dog pal for company and for exercise! They are the very best!

Around the time of this snowstorm in February, we finally decided that it would be a great idea to join the Pooch Park in the Pines, so that Dixie could have off-leash time and get to see some of his canine neighbors for play. Since joining the fenced in dog park, with a portion for small dogs and one for large dogs, we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every visit. I try to get up there at least twice a week and although he nearly always needs some powdering or a bath after a visit, it has been a great experience for him.
Because of his penchant for running off, this is the best venue! The first time we went there, he would not come to either my husband or myself when it was time to leave! There was a lovely woman there who volunteered to call him for us and she was able to hold him so we could apply the leash!
I think if it were not for her, we might still be sitting there trying to get him on leash! In subsequent trips, a little bit of chicken in my pocket seemed to help. This last visit, he actually followed me to the gate, which
has a double system and I was able to leash him up readily. He had a great romp with two pugs and a doxey mix and another dog owner gave him a good run with frisbee! The dog park is a gem for Dixie!

Happy Spring!

I know it's not really Spring yet, but after this cold, hard, southern winter, I feel the need to celebrate the warmer temperatures!  Soon the pollen (called "yellow peril") will abound and some will feel the need to stay indoors!  When I wrote my Christmas and New Years greetings on this blog, I was overwhelmed with the fact that our Dixie had once again, found a way to see the world on his own!  We were walking at 4pm on the 23rd of December when he was rolling on the grass, taking time to get on with nature, and I got impatient and pulled on the leash, commanding him to come forward.  Well, the harness he was wearing slipped right off and he was across the practice range at Pine Needles before I could say, "Dixie".  After two and a half hours of watching him run up and down the 18th hole, where golfers were still playing, darkness came and I ran on home to get my car and go to the neighborhood where he seemed to be hanging out.  All that time I was fretting about losing tract of him, of course.  When I arrived up on Grove Rd, near the 18th hole and the house of the owner of the golf course, he came running after the car, barking.  I stopped the car and opened the door and he ran off again!  I parked the car in the driveway of a house which only has inhabitants part of the time, opened the door, left dog treats on the seat, and hid behind a tree.  All this time I can hear the dog breathing and I know he is nearby even though I couldn't see him!  Well, he would not come near the car or me!  As a last ditch effort, I went to the house of a dog walking acquaintance and asked if I could borrow his Corgi, Lily, to entice Dixie.  He was very kind, gave me the dog, got his shoes and his wife and they came to help me!  When Dixie saw Lily, he came over to greet her and Mike, the neighbor, was able to get hold of Dixie!  Since he had no collar, harness, or tags I was so worried about losing him!  Dixie wolfed down all the cookies on the car seat, drank water when he got home and promptly threw up all over the rug!  I was never so happy to clean up after a dog in my life.  Dixie was home again!  I feel like Dixie knows I always have a leash and keep him tethered and that is why he won't come to me or my husband when he is on the "loose"!  At least the Christmas season took on extra happiness with our Dixie safely back at home!  I hate to make this blog a saga of Dixie's errant adventures, but that is what it seems to be!