Dogs in the garden: Bashir’s doin’ it right
By Liz Palika
April 15, 2010
Most dogs dig. My dog Bashir? He digs watching me garden.
I plant a large garden at the Kindred Spirits training yard every year. I grow veggies for Paul and I, and for our dogs. In addition, any of the trainers who help me pull weeds can share the bounty. Last year I harvested huge crops of tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, eggplant, green beans, peppers, and watermelons. Even though the weeks almost won last year, we still got a lot of food from the garden — fresh tasty food.
I was planting tomatoes today — four different kinds — and strawberries. I’ve already got some squash in and pumpkins. I’m going to put in some onions this week, too, as well as the watermelon, several different kinds of peppers, and Italian squash.
As I was planting today Archer and Riker ran around the training yard, played, chased rabbits, sniffed for lizards, and snoozed in the shade.
Bashir, however, was in the garden with me, as he is every year. I haven’t figured out whether he’s guarding me — after all, there might be lions and tigers in the garden, you know! He may also be trying to help me. As far as he’s concerned, his job on this earth in this lifetime is to make my life easier, and he works very hard at that self proclaimed job.
Every shovel full of dirt was sniffed and inspected. Each hole for the plants was sniffed. When a hole turned up a large piece of compost, well, that had to be pointed out — after all, it was something in the wrong place!
When some dug up dirt turned up a wiggling earthworm, oh my! That got a bark — there was something alive there! When I told Bashir it was okay, to leave the earthworm alone, I was given a very reproachful look. He was protecting me, after all. So I reburied the earthworm to get it out of sight.
What a handsome helper. If only he had opposable thumbs.
Comment by Erich Riesenberg — April 15, 2010 @ 7:12 pm
Love this, thank you. I have special helpers too, and can relate so much to this. Warms my heart!
Comment by Dominique Ridley — April 15, 2010 @ 9:34 pm
One little question:
Why the name Bashir?
It’s not a name I associate with Australian shepherds that actually originate in the US.
Comment by retrieverman — April 15, 2010 @ 9:57 pm
Why the name Bashir? Why not?
All of my dogs have Star Trek names - not just because my husband and I are fans, but also because we pair a character’s temperament, personality and so forth with a dog’s. Riker is handsome, cavalier, charming and has strong opinions. Bashir is incredibly intelligent, quiet and serious. Archer is a charmer. And so forth.
As far as names associated with Australian Shepherds that originate in the US; the entire breed originated in the US!
Comment by Liz Palika — April 15, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
I would love to meet Bashir. He’s my kind of Aussie Shepherd.
Comment by David S. Greene — April 16, 2010 @ 5:42 am
What a great helper! Handsome too!
Comment by The Other Lori — April 16, 2010 @ 8:05 am
Lucky Bashir. We’re still too soggy for gardening yet.
Nicky the Noodle loves supervising the garden prep. For him, not much beats laying in the rows of cool, freshly turned earth, the sun warming his face, and a breeze gently ruffling his fur. Catching a few zzz’s is a bonus. It’s the one time he’s content to let the other dogs take care of managing the rest of the world.
Comment by Melinda — April 16, 2010 @ 11:37 am
Oh, Liz! I heart you (and your hubby)! I had a cocker spaniel named Alexander Kahliss. I actually named him before I got him, but it fit, as he was alternately strong/courageous and shy/playful. He passed away several years ago, but I got another cocker in 2006 and when I was searching for a name for this very bright but terribly fearful dog (she was a rescue pup with a bite history), someone suggested I give her a name to grow into. Thus, B’Elanna Torres was named. And, oh, has she grown into her name! :-) I’ve tried to name several new pets Kess, but it hasn’t fit yet. Someday…I named my foster puppies Sisko and Geordi, but Geordi’s new mom changed his name to Billy.
Comment by Sherron — April 16, 2010 @ 8:12 pm