This Weekend Was For The Dogs

We had company over the weekend, and I can't believe I didn't get any photos. There were so many photo ops, but the camera was out of reach. There was my Android and our guests' two iPhones always handy, but somehow we still didn't manage. 

Our nephew Alex and his fiancée Marie came to visit with their 10-month-old pup Lucy. Lucy is a gentle soul who already knows some pretty impressive tricks.

She was a perfectly mellow companion for Mr. Jefferies. At least that was MY opinion. Mr. Jefferies' opinion, as you might expect, was a little bit different. She chewed up his TOYS. And he did not LIKE THAT. She stole toys right out of his MOUTH! Plus, Alpha was petting her!

Also: "Is she going to stay here PERMANENTLY?" 

Also: "Grr." 

And yet: "Hey, wanna play?"

"Hey, wanna snuggle?"

"Here, I'll just eat your food, OK?"

He was a little bit confused by the whole situation and was pretty relieved when she left and he had his domain all back to his Yorkie self.

Marie and I went for a run together on the Rail Trail this morning, and Lucy came along with us. While Lucy's parentage is completely unknown, as far as I can tell, she looks and acts like a Greyhound-Black Lab mix.I love to observe the different traits of different breeds. She was so happy on the running trail, and constantly searched for places to leave the trail and run alongside. She was happiest running like a gazelle in trees, when she could. It was quite beautiful. She would leave for a few seconds, and circle back to check on us frequently, never really leaving our sight (or us, hers). 

It turned out to be "Family Fitness Day" on the trail, so there were loads of people and kids. Lucy was just awesome. She was off leash, and I fully expected some over-protective parent to freak out unnecessarily, but there was no need. Lucy just ambled along, ignoring and seemingly oblivious to the people, and constantly checked in with us. Wouldn't it be great if all dogs were like this?

Poor Alex, though, who was walking along far behind us at a slow pace because he only had on his flip-flops, was suffering a bit of a crisis of which we were unaware. He thought he had lost Lucy. He didn't know that she was with us the whole time. So when we were running back, Lucy along with us, people were asking us, "Is that your dog? There is a lost black dog that someone is looking for."

Aww. Poor guy.

But anyway, it was a case of Marie keeping me accountable with the running thing, and it was a very good thing. It was a very successful run for me, and I followed it up with much, much stretching. The stretching took twice as long as the run did, and it was worth it. My back pain seems to have abated. Mr. Jefferies took the opportunity to find safety under my bent knees while I was on the yoga mat, while Lucy gently played with him. Lucy has lovely manners and is clean and sweet.

In the end I think we both agree: Lucy can come stay with us anytime.

Comments

[Kayten]

What a lovely weekend! I spent mine rescuinga grey fox kit that was hit by a car. My soft-hearted son saw it happen. He called Mom the animal maven to assist, and stood guard over it till I arrived. Raised him right, I guess!

[Adam]

hello,
you should read "the loneliness of the long- distance runner".
See you,
an other nephew,
Adam

[Connie G.]

Awwwww......
Lucy does look like a sweetie. Of course, nothing to compare to Mr. Jefferies, though! He is in a class all of his own, though I'm partial to big dogs like Lucy.

[gayle]

It was very gracious of Mr J to share his home (and his toys) with another dog. Not to mention his Alpha...

[Seanna Lea]

It sounds like you had a great weekend and a pretty terrific run. I'm hoping that I can get back into it now that I'm not spending all of my hours in the kitchen!

[Marianne]

Did she chew the chicken?!?!?!?!?
She does look like a sweetie, you know me, loves me a good dog! wha? no video of that trick??? :^)

[Cookie]

Poor Alex!

Sounds like a lovely weekend.