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The Deadhead dog: Archer and I invented a new game
By Liz Palika
September 23, 2009
All three of the dogs were out in the front yard with me the other day as I deadheaded (clipped off spent blossoms) my roses. Bashir and Riker were enjoying the sun while watching the neighbors, but Archer was fascinated with what I was doing for some reason. He usually doesn’t pay attention to my gardening attempts so I was watching him as he was watching me.
Australian Shepherds don’t usually have a ‘hard eye’ (at least not as strong as Border Collies, for example), but Archer does have a good strong eye. As he watched me clip the rose blossoms he was giving me that eye.
So, as I clipped a blossom, I tossed it over my shoulder. Snap! He caught it.
I laughed, cheered him on, “Good catch!” and a new game was born.
I tossed rose blossoms, trying to do so with giving him any clue as to where the blossom was going, and he stared at me close enough to try and catch clues from body movements. When he caught a blossom, he chomped it once (to show the blossom who’s boss, I guess) and then spit it out.
I have to admit, we were having so much fun I ended up clipping all the blossoms – both those gone by and those in bloom – I guess I enjoy having fun with my dogs more than I enjoy the roses.
I did leave all the buds, though, so we can play our new game again soon.
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Harper and I have developed a ball game that we play. She gets her ball and I tell her to “push it.” If she noses it or baps it with her paw in my direction, then I throw it for her. When she brings it back, we start over with “drop it,” “push it” and so on. Sometimes she pushes it in any old direction, but if I tell her “to me,” she figures out very quickly where it needs to go. And now my participation is being requested again…
Comment by Kim Thornton — September 23, 2009 @ 7:41 am
I used to throw half-eaten apples from my apple tree(the squirrels did the damage) into the grass for my cat Batman to run after.
Just lettin’ ya know that cats like to have fun outside going after things, too. :>)
Comment by Colorado Transplant — September 23, 2009 @ 11:40 am
Re: Colorado:
Definitely! I was watching Xena hunt lizards today! Luckily for the lizards, Xena wasn’t trying too hard! smile….
Comment by Liz Palika — September 23, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Liz, please forgive me for breaking in on your posted item here but I really want to make everyone aware of an email I received from the ASPCA. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) has introduced bill HR-3501 to amend the US Tax code to fight for a tax break for pet care costs up to $3500 yr. Want to make sure everyone writes their congressmen/women to get this bill passed. Thank you Liz. Sorry for interrupting your post.
Comment by VJ — September 23, 2009 @ 4:02 pm