Little Dogs

Little dogs were an issue for puppy. In some respects she deferred to a little dog like my sister's dachshund, Gretchen.

Gretchen was the queen in Zoe's eyes. Gretchen took the lead in hunting, food, affection from humans - she was the alpha. The little dachshund even taught my dog to bark. Thanks, Gretchen.

Then there were the little dachshunds and rat terrier that lived behind my dog. These animals were stupid in puppy's eyes. Zoe was the alpha.

The little dogs would run outside in the winter and bark. Bark at everything. Zoe would ask to go out and she would saunter over to the fence and arf a few times as if to say, "Shush your pie hole, there's nothing out here." The little dogs would stand off and continue to bark and then beg to go inside.

Then it began to snow. I must preface this in saying the backyard of the little dogs was dramatically cut in half by the presence of an in-ground pool. The owners placed a hard top pool cover in the winter months that supposedly held the weight of people and dogs without having to secure the cover. Zoe didn't believe this.

After a snow storm that dropped 8-12 inches of the white stuff, the little dogs decided to leave their house and bark. They would stand in the middle of the pool cover on top a foot of snow. Heavy, wet snow. Puppy saw it as her duty to tell the little dogs they were in danger. Out she went through the compact snow to the edge of the yard. "Arf, arf, arf, arf, arf," which translated into, "Hey you stupid little dogs, get off the pool cover. Stupid dogs, get off the pool cover." Then, Zoe would turn tail and come back in the warm house.

Her job was complete. She warned the little dogs, but would they listen? No.