Sadie and Max take guarding the house very seriously. Max knows that he isn’t supposed to bark at cats that walk through the yard or at dogs and humans walking down the block, he even knows that the random leaf blowing through the yard is not a threat, yes there was a time when all of these required excessive warning barks; he still can't resist acknowledging them but for the sake of being "a good boy" a low barely audible growl is all he permits himself now. Max was smacked in the nose by an evil cat at the tender age of 5 weeks old and clearly he still holds a grudge. Cats are not welcome here and strangers most certainly aren’t welcomed. This is why when they hear a noise in their yard, they must investigate. They are guard dogs and are very good at their job.
This morning I was sitting on the patio drinking coffee after Ken left for work and I heard the noise and so did they. Our back yard is quite small but with the shrubs and bushes, there are plenty of places for an intruder such as a cat or squirrel to hide. I knew the noise wasn’t that of an intruder. I knew exactly what had caused that loud THUD.
INTRUDER! Max’s little claws tore into the cement of the patio as he sprung from his spot and charged forward to investigate growling and barking along the way with complete disregard for his own safety. Sadie put on her “big dog bark” and let out little huffs and puffs of air, while scanning the yard for any signs of an intruder. And then came another loud THUD.
They both barked like crazy at the noise but were confused and mystified as to its origin. They jumped and spun around, looking for the intruder, all the while keeping a close and watchful eye over her who must be protected…yeah that would be me. Despite my reassurances they felt the need to protect me from this unseen threat.
Just then it happened again, they saw movement in the bushes and pounced on the predator. They looked shocked and disillusioned when despite their immediate response, the intruder was gone.
By the end of the week they will have learned there is no threat but by next year they will forget and we will repeat the process all over again. How does one reassure loyal companions and protectors that there is no threat and the THUD is nothing more than grapefruit falling from the tree?
LOLOLOLOL!! Love the way you told that story.I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what was the THUD?!.i could picture the whole scene! Random leaf...so funny. I have a barker too..but they are so sweet, aren't they!! It sounds like your yard is a little paradise..with fruit trees and all. Glad you take the time to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you have a grapefruit tree. Wouldn't it be totally cool if I could grow apples, oranges, bananas, pineapples, and everything else?
ReplyDeleteI have a barker too. My sweet lab tells me when the neighbors are home, when they are checking their mail, when they are getting out of the car, when they go inside, when an ant comes in the yard, you name it. He's doing his job but a little well. I have tried talking to him letting him know that we are only concerned about what is going on HERE...hehe.
ReplyDeleteBlackjack doesn't care about the lemon and grapefruit tree. Your post might have inspired my post for tomorrow..my giant lemons.
Ok, now I'm officially jealous! A grapefruit tree! Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteCute story!
I'm definitely jealous too!! (I went to buy grapefruit last week...they were $1 each!!!) Very cute story.
ReplyDeleteI don't even like grapefruit. I eat them and 20 minutes later I'm ravenous so I avoid them. We have a lemon tree that has big lemons, like twice the juice of the ones you get in the store. I cook with them all of the time. We also have an orange tree that hasn't had oranges since the hurricane of 2004 :-(
ReplyDeleteOh the grapefruit tree isn't even in our yard, its in the neighbors behind us but a big section of it hangs over our yard and thats why they fall in our yard.
ReplyDeleteAww, I love Max and Sadie :)
ReplyDeleteI also love the way you tell your stories!
That is hilarious! But yum-o on your own grapefruit tree. I too, don't eat them, but I like the juice (especially with vodka).
ReplyDeleteHow great that you get to sit outside on your patio and enjoy the morning. We have too many lizards for me to sit out there.
We have lizards too but of course mighty MAX chases them all away, you should get a dog or train Fang Jr to do it ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think I should sell grapefruit. My tree probably had 200 fruit this year. My lemons are bigger than the grapefruit and probably had 30 or so of those this year.
ReplyDeleteI WANT GRAPEFRUIT!!! Many you are so lucky!! They wouldn't have a shot here lol. I do have apple and cherry trees but they just poop fruit to be picked up *sigh*
ReplyDeleteBear Bear rarely barks. His growl is usually enough hahaha. Sounds like a real bear. Scares the crap out of people till they see him, growling AND wagging his tale. Hard to look tough with your tale waggin lolol.
Have a super week!
*huggles*
=0)
So cute!
ReplyDeletehahahaha... cute story!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL - too funny we have grapefruits and the HUGE lemons that look like grapefruits...now the thing is...for all those people who think this sounds like a wonderful thing (and is when you want to partake in some citrus) but what if you want to sit outside on a sunny day? What if you want to sit in the cool of the shade??? You get clobbered! LOL Grapefruit trees can be DANGEROUS! Your pups have every right to bark at those things....
ReplyDeleteI loved that post.. I laughed so hard.. I can just see Cookie doing that...
ReplyDeleteIt has been incredibly hot some days in May so far. When the heat gets like this I really HATE being an obese person, and wish that I didn't have to suffer so much during the summer.
ReplyDeletePoor Sadie and Maxx! Trying to protect the homestead from the Evil Yellow Dimpled Monsters, and they get made fun of on the internet. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat story! They sound like a couple of handfuls.
Around here that sound is baseball sized hale stones...good enough for insurance to buy us a new roof! Wish I could go out and find grapefruit! Lucky girl.
ReplyDeleteYou need to nominate yourself for the Friday Featured Blogger (which, by the way, I DEEPLY appreciated. You made my week!!). That's one of the funniest entries I've ever read. Your poor little friends, only looking out for you! Too funny!!!
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