Problem Solving

Well, now that we all know Fudge's complaints, it's time to address some of them. Fudge is a little bit prone to exaggeration as he showed in his complaint. He also has a very healthy ego. Yes, he did very well in obedience school and he did earn his title before several judges, but he failed to mention the time he showed off in front of the judge, doing tricks instead of "commandments" and earned himself a disqualification.


It's true that Fudge wears almost anything I ask him to, but he is well rewarded with treats and lots of attention. I don't know which that boy likes better.

He has a valid point about his school bags and last night I bought Noah his very own school bag and special treat bag.


I got Noah a bag with a big super star on the front. Noah is a strange little character. He's very quiet and timid. He hangs back when the others start playing and needs lots of encouragement. I'm hoping that his obedience lessons give him a boost to his fragile little ego. He's doing very well in his lessons and doesn't feel the need to show off, unlike a certain brown and white dog.

I've also decided that Fudge can have a refresher class immediately after Noah is finished with his class. Now everybody is relatively happy.

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We've had a number of squirrels invade the yard this year. They cruise around the deck looking for food and empty the bird feeders almost as fast as we fill them. Lately one has begun standing on the living room windowsill with his front feet on the glass looking in at the dogs, safe in the knowledge that there's a pane of glass between them and him. As you can imagine it drives the dogs crazy and we've had a lot of barking.


More recently the squirrels have started sitting in the oak trees in the back yard and yelling insults at the dogs below them. Sometimes they throw acorns at them. The dogs are not pleased about this behavior. Last week a couple brave or foolish squirrels began coming part way down the tree trunk to yell at the dogs. They stay safely out of reach of the dogs.

Today one squirrel made a serious miscalculation. He came down the tree trunk to yell and he came a little too far. Bailey jumped up and grabbed him. I didn't see her catch him, but I knew something was going on so I called her. Bailey never obeys, but this time she came toward me and I thought she had brought one of her toys outside till I remembered that she doesn't have a squirrel toy.

I told her to drop it and for the first time ever, she did as she was told. The squirrel was still alive, it was blinking. There were no marks on him and no blood. I scooped him up in the poop scoop, much to his dismay and tossed him over the fence. By that time I had all ten dogs jumping around wanting to see the squirrel.

I don't know if he died, but something very strange happened. No squirrels came on the deck today. Not a single squirrel invaded the bird feeders. When we went in the yard no squirrels were in sight yelling insults at us. We did not see a single squirrel all day.

Were they all attending the funeral of their friend or.....

...were they busy plotting their revenge? Will we be getting a visit from Mr Boss Squirrel?


Is Fidel Squirrel on his way to invade?


Are we going to soon be under attack by the Army of Avenger Squirrels? Morgan will sit in the window and alert us if she sees anything approaching. Let's hope the little guy survived and he and his family are now in the next county looking for a new home.