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There was enough water on the ground for Nicki to do plenty of puddling on his romp, so that when we returned to the Jeep i figured i should wipe off his belly and paws. As is too often the case, i was focusing on the task at-paw without sufficient awareness of my circumstances. In other words, i was rushing.
As dogs usually do, Nicki pulled that-away, which caused me to jerk this-away as a result of which the Pentax (which i had hastily jammed into my shoulder pouch without bothering to close the zipper) fell to the ground with a dull clunking sound.
In an instant fury i bellowed a series of theological invectives which horrified all Calvinists within earshot. Worse yet, I shove-kicked Nicki on the underside with the top of my foot.
I did not hurt him and it was nothing harder than the tussling we do at play. But if, as Justice Holmes said, a dog knows the difference between being tripped over and kicked, he also knows the difference between play and anger. Nicki gave me a look that combined fear with a stare of trust betrayed.
I did what i should have done at first, which was take off the damn shoulder pack and put it in the car rather than trying to towel a moving dog and hold his leash with a bag of gear dangling from my neck. I finished wiping Nicki off and he jumped into the car.
But he made a point of sitting in the back with a very hurt and hang-doggie air. I couldn't stand it. So I pulled over to the side of the road, had him come up to the passenger seat, gave him chew-chips and made touchy feely apologetic noises. A neutral calm was restored.
We got home a little while later. I put my gear on the table, took off my jacket, took off Nicki's leash and gave him some of the real fish chew chips i keep in the freezer. More sorry-noises. There is no question, Nicki got the point.
I then filled a cup of water and went to sit down in the living room. As i rested back, with my hand and cup on the arm rest, Nicki came over to the cup and put his nose to it indicating he wanted to drink.
Now Nicki has a full bowl of water in the usual place and two toilet bowls for his refreshment; but it was very obvious he wanted to drink from this cup, the cup i would be drinking from.
Our eyes met. "Okay, Nicki, just a minute." I took a sip and then held it out for him to slurp. We were reconciled.
.^.
As dogs usually do, Nicki pulled that-away, which caused me to jerk this-away as a result of which the Pentax (which i had hastily jammed into my shoulder pouch without bothering to close the zipper) fell to the ground with a dull clunking sound.
In an instant fury i bellowed a series of theological invectives which horrified all Calvinists within earshot. Worse yet, I shove-kicked Nicki on the underside with the top of my foot.
I did not hurt him and it was nothing harder than the tussling we do at play. But if, as Justice Holmes said, a dog knows the difference between being tripped over and kicked, he also knows the difference between play and anger. Nicki gave me a look that combined fear with a stare of trust betrayed.
I did what i should have done at first, which was take off the damn shoulder pack and put it in the car rather than trying to towel a moving dog and hold his leash with a bag of gear dangling from my neck. I finished wiping Nicki off and he jumped into the car.
But he made a point of sitting in the back with a very hurt and hang-doggie air. I couldn't stand it. So I pulled over to the side of the road, had him come up to the passenger seat, gave him chew-chips and made touchy feely apologetic noises. A neutral calm was restored.
We got home a little while later. I put my gear on the table, took off my jacket, took off Nicki's leash and gave him some of the real fish chew chips i keep in the freezer. More sorry-noises. There is no question, Nicki got the point.
I then filled a cup of water and went to sit down in the living room. As i rested back, with my hand and cup on the arm rest, Nicki came over to the cup and put his nose to it indicating he wanted to drink.
Now Nicki has a full bowl of water in the usual place and two toilet bowls for his refreshment; but it was very obvious he wanted to drink from this cup, the cup i would be drinking from.
Our eyes met. "Okay, Nicki, just a minute." I took a sip and then held it out for him to slurp. We were reconciled.
.^.
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