Squirrel chasing at sunrise

Heidi dragged me for half a block today chasing a squirrel.

She noticed the squirrel before I did and took off...my heart was in my throat because the surprise factor threw off my balance and I was imagining being dragged along on my stomach down Metcalfe street for the entertainment of everyone driving to work. I kept it up on two feet and ran along behind her until I could get her stopped.

My doggie discipline (who knows if it works) is to calmly and assertively (thanks Caesar!) get Heidi to sit, then I hold her face in my hands so we're looking eye to eye and say "NO. BAAAAD." Writing it, it sounds ridiculous. But it doesn't hurt her, and getting her sitting down and listening usually snaps her out of whatever behaviour she was getting into.

Okay, back to the squirrels....DAMN YOU SQUIRRELS!! I think squirrels are cute, I've always liked them....until I was a dog owner, that is. Now, I would swear that they knowingly taunt dogs. Some will run just out of reach, then stop again, so the dogs keep trying to make chase. Others will climb a tree, but stay low enough to still be within reach - making the dogs crazy with longing for squirrel meat.

My dogs have never caught a squirrel and I would bet money that they never will. No matter what happens though, they are persistant, they keep trying.

And what suffers?

My arms
shoulders
wrists
fingers
from holding on for dear life.

Their necks
and windpipes
from pulling against the leash.

If only the squirrels would go about their squirrelly business from the sanctity of the tree tops....

So if you see me walking, you'll know it's me because I'll be the one scanning the sidewalks and lawns for squirrels so I can catch Heidi before her ears perk up and she decides to take off in pursuit of her little rodent snack.