Learning to Run

I tried to teach Oliver about running a bit last week when we were alone, but I have a bad ankle, it's been cold, and he wasn't interested in it anyway. For the past few days I've kept them up in the halfyard pen I made to keep them out of the workers (tree cutters) hair and out of harm's way.

Today I through up an ex pen for Bitty (she is missing the sanctuary of the trees) and opened the other gate-and gave them free range of the yard. Then I sat down and watched.

When the dogs ran out, Oliver was most befuddled. He didn't like being left behind. He protested and called. Then he figured out he could go through the gate too. The rest of it was learning if he wanted to be where they were, and they were there-well, he had to go there. And, if he wanted to play the games they were playing, and it involved running, he was going to have to run. So he did.

When the pack saw he was trying to work it out, they involved him in chases. Greta and Cody delighted in full on runs with hairpin turns. They seemed to enjoy it when Oliver tumbled during his turns, but it wasn't in a ugly way. No, it was like "look at that young whippersnapper, better run a few more times...."

Cody is rolling around in the grass like a furry little playball. He loves a good game of chase better than anyone, and has decided that one more is just merrier.

I started to get the camera, but decided just to stay and watch and enjoy. Humans want to mark moments and relive them over and over...dogs just learn to run....and then they run.