Day 39
Imagine theme music to the movie “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is playing. The final showdown on “the ridge” is upon us. Cooper must survive an encounter with the big dog on scene, Fro.
Frodo is an 82 pound, 4-year-old Rottweiler who’s big enough you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking he might just like to have a little dog for an afternoon snack. He is also best friends with Harley, my sister’s semi-crazy Whippet mix. It is delightful to watch the two bigger dogs cavort with wild abandon, upcountry on the ridge. Can we possibly expect Cooper to meld in with these two? Seems very unlikely.
The weather has been cool in Kentucky lately, but this day is lovely. The sun is shining, and the temperature is a moderate 70 degrees. The house we’re visiting is set at the top of a knoll and meadow, surrounded by copses of both deciduous and evergreen trees. Sitting on the back deck with my foot in an orthopedic boot (long story), and with a cup of tea in hand, is a bit magical. I can’t think of a place I’d rather be at this moment. Thank you, Sandy, for your kind hospitality.
The two bigger dogs are already bounding this way and that. While there is now a manageable détente between the Whippet and the little dog (a Havanese), no one expects what happens as the Havanese encounters the Rottweiler face-to-face, least of all Fro.
Suddenly the Rottie is stopped in his tracks. “What is this mop of a creature?” you can imagine him saying to himself. Then the mop moved and the Rottie backed up a little. {I can hear a Scooby-Do-like “Ahuh?” coming from the big dog.) Momentarily the two bigger dogs start running again. But the Rottie soon comes back, curiosity getting the best of him. “Could this furry thing really be a dog?” Fro might be saying.
Then, just as suddenly, the three of them started running together, happily it seemed, and I breathed a sigh of relief while other owners marveled. Cooper is a good runner and gets along with bigger dogs, this I knew. I think it was a surprise to everyone else to see him chasing—but not quite catching—the big dogs. He doesn’t give up, however, and even barks occasionally to be sure the other canines know he is a worthy cavorter. It is very entertaining to see the three becoming playmates, wearing each other out in the process. What a triumph.
This will be a happy memory from my trip for sure.
Lexington KY