Welcome!


Join me as we have fun with our dogs, and then paddle along with the Dog Paddlers—a dragon boat team in Victoria, Canada. You'll meet my Silky Terriers—Abby, Zack, Sami and Gemma—and their feline sister, Bridget. Share with us the joys and challenges of strengthening the human-canine bond as we participate with our dogs in canine agility, trailwalks and canine freestyle.

Monday, April 20, 2009

THE BODYGUARD

Who knew? Zack has shown a new talent: he's an excellent bodyguard—for his little niece Gemma.

The first inkling of this was on the trail walk on Saturday morning. Another puppy was being very bouncy—something that's very intimidating when you're only 5 1/2 pounds and something probably 5 times your size is running in circles around you and making big jumps at you. I was about to move in to move Gemma out of the way when Zack quietly, slowly and gently walked in between Gemma and the other puppy. No growling, no barking, no snarling. He just stepped in front of Gemma and stood there, very calmly. It was very interesting to watch, and very gratifying. Way to go, Uncle Zack!

Episode 2: tonight when I was mowing the lawn. Big, noisy mower that Gemma wanted nothing to do with, and she had hightailed it as far away from it as she could get. After a while, I wondered exactly where she had sought refuge, as I hadn't seen her for some time. I looked around the side of the house, and there she was—with Zack once again standing right with her. She was sitting down against the fence, peering around Zack's shoulder as he stood there with his muzzle gently on her head. Comforting her. I so wished I had had a camera! It was very sweet.

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