Lambiedog

Savoir-faire at the precipice

 Nene and I met up at the Samulon bench.  

 Nene wanted to move on to the Anna Walker Steere bench, but I remonstrated with him.  It's common knowledge that that bench is located at the edge of a precipice.  Danger is its middle name.

But Nene went down there anyway.

 He parked himself at the bluff edge and dared his owner to do something about it.      

The owner turned to a seasoned diplomat to try to reason with Nene.

     

 Finally I talked him back from the precipice.

Oftentimes diplomacy really amounts to just so much sheep-herding.

Haiku

 

Poodle gathering

Hair confidences exchanged

Bluff bathed in sunlight. 

    

 

Glad to be of assistance

I was busy thinking deep thoughts

when Charlie interrupted my reverie with a math question.

....

I racked my brain until I remembered the formula he needed.

 

 I love to be helpful.

New rawhide

 

Ziggy's dad performs a trick

 
        We were at the bluffs this morning when Ziggy's dad said he had a good trick to show us.

    I assumed that it would be another piece de resistance from Ziggy -- such an amazing achiever.  But it turned out that the scheduled performer was Ziggy's dad.

First, not to deny us, Ziggy did perform a few tricks --  specifically:

  -'Shake paws' (right and then left)

           

 <----'Bunny' 

'Who's your daddy?'-->
  

 Then his dad took over, demonstrating some impressive Iyengar yoga moves.  

          

Ziggy and I were transfixed; Ziggy perhaps less so than me.

          

    I suppose that when you come from such a talented family, any individual accomplishment can get to seem a bit ho-hum.

  

   

   

My solitary labors

    Things are heating up here in terms of wildlife.  Squirrels and rabbits are present on the bluffs in increasing numbers, offering eager students many promising avenues of inquiry.  

    Yet my research is so often solitary.

    I do try to get other dogs involved. Ziggy, for example, with his great intellect, would be an outstanding research partner.  Mogul, with his boundless enthusiasm, could also doubtless advance our efforts.  Even Tramp could assist when he's in town.  

    If only.

    The problem is that, just as I seem to lack the hail-fellow-well-met gene, these guys do not seem to have the gene for research.   If I propose a wildlife foray, they're willing to follow along with me for a second or two. Then they get caught up in their interactions and forget about fauna that might be hidden in the bushes.

 

    So I straighten my shoulders and head off to find more research subjects.  

    Alone again, of course.

 

Snack time

 We were playing over at Willy's house when Kim brought out some treats.  We all gathered round.

 On the ladies-first principle Miss Jade got the first snack.  Then, maybe on the guests-first principle, it was Charo's turn.  

Finally it was time for the Most Important Dog to receive my treat.

 

 As the host, Willy was very patient and waited until everyone else had been served. 

Guidance

 

Dolce's uncle

 

Dolce's uncle paid her a holiday visit. He thoughtfully paid attention as well to those of us who didn't have any visiting relatives.  

But when I got home I was beset with the blues.  Why didn't I have any relatives visiting?

 

Too bad my relatives live on the other side of the continent.

Dispatch from the south of France

 

My European correspondent has sent me some photos of French dogs engaged in their native routines:

         

         

         

I note that these dogs seem perhaps more urbane than us simple country folk who gather at the bluff.