January 22, 2012

White Dog tried to blame the winds. "It's an ill wind blowing through the canyons today, momma. It is infecting our spirit!" I conceded that the weather was cold and windy but the skies were blue and we had spent the mid-day at their favorite duck park. The winds hardly seemed the culprit.

Yet something was effecting all of the pups. Every single one was short-tempered and out of sorts as they growled and threatened each other without provocation. Even Dragon and Sen-ge were stricken. Candace walked down the drive with the Honorary White Dogs and before they even reached the car where Steve waited with YoYoMa to let them into Pumpkin, the two guests started barking and lunging at YAWD. Candace swooped up Dragon and Gregg grabbed Sen-ge in embarrassment.

At the Park, White Dog refused to run with the others. She briefly investigated the grassy area and returned to sit on the crosswalk next to the car, stubbornly refusing to participate. YoYoMa kept interrupting his Walk with Puff (usually they are a great pair) by constantly veering over to her and attempting to mount her (she glared and sat down). Nuka, Quinn's protector and comfort, today felt the need to over-herd him and to yip her commands right in his face. Her bossiness made him nervous and anxious for the walk to end.  Dragon and Sen-ge charged and challenged every dog they passed. Everyone at the Park, including the White Dog Army, was glad when our trio readied their bikes for riding and strapped the little bullies into their bike baskets.

Normally as the WDA waits for Steve, Gregg, and Candace to return they get comfortable and nap. Not so today. They danced around each other and could not get settled. Quinn did not want to sleep next to YoYoMa; White Dog did not want to share the front seat with Puff; Nuka wanted no one on the way back seat with her. They all needed a drink of water from the travel bowl at the same time, pushing and shoving to make their claim until I intervened.

After the bike ride, the pups usually get a second chance to exercise; today was no different. Except, that although every pup pushed to get out first no one really wanted to walk. A short failed attempt to coax the reluctant WDA into cooperation led to a revised plan: we would take our pups, Dragon and Sen-ge home and then the humans would go out for lunch. Normally the WDA and guests come along but today every pup was just too crabby and antisocial. As a consolation prize White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog and Yet Another White Dog were each given a piece of duck jerky and were left to seriously think about their lack of kindness. I only felt a tiny bit guilty as we backed down the driveway and the sad black eyes peering from fluffy whiteness begged me to reconsider.