Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sammy Cincos tackles the wilds!

New dog, Sammy Cincos, and I went for a walk up in the foothills about a mile from the house this afternoon. New stream beds forged from last summer's flooding rains have made great (and wide) walking trails.

Despite taking a photography course many years ago, I confess I don't know how a little flash can influence the casting of an entire landscape in warm tones, but it does. (Compare with one below, taken after I turned the flash off--basically the same scene, zoomed in.)
It was pleasant walking with temps in the mid to upper forties, but a change of weather was coming over the mountains. The sun was soon swallowed up by clouds devouring the blue sky.

But neither young Sam nor I were deterred. Soon our perseverance paid off when Sammy rousted out his first bunny ever from the brush. Wanting desperately to pursue, he stood up on his hind legs like a prairie dog (or grizzly bear). And there he stood for the longest time watching as the streaking white of the bunny's tale vanished into the distant landscape which, like the clouds devouring blue sky above, swallowed the bunny below. I congratulated Sam several times as he reluctantly conceded to a leash heading in the opposite direction from the bunny's.

Shortly after our return, it got really dark. A sudden wind dropped the temperature, as we watched little raindrops appear outside on the patio. The timing of our walk had been impeccable!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awww,
Hi there Sammy Cincos, the new doggie. I am glad you had a good walk and I am really glad you let that bunny get away. I am sure you get all the food you need from your Daddy, Dada. Now you behave, Mr. Sammy, you hear?

enigma4ever said...

I am so glad that you and Sammy had a good stroll and even made friends with a bunny....what a beautiful setting...

Dada said...

Thanks karena, enigma, for scrolling a few words of encouragement here. (Along with gentle reminders of the difference between food and fun.) I shared 'em with Sammy. He's going to be a good...no, a very, very good one. Extremely bright.

I read on one of those boards with names for pets and people that Sam, Sammy, Samuel, indicated one was a good listener. He certainly is that.

Pursey Tuttweiler said...

A doggie that's a good listener! That is the best kind of doggie. My doggie is a little too hyper to listen, but if I never need his ear I just have to call one of my kitties to come snuggle with me and he jumps right up and is as good as gold while I tell him what a fine young lad he is. His is driven by jealousy of the cats and that is the best way to get his attention.

Dada said...

pursey...Yes, as we learned last Saturday eve as guests of a household with 5 (yes, cinco!) dogs, jealousy can be an extremely powerful emotion, as Sammy made known to all the others who his people were, i.e., HIS!

Pursey Tuttweiler said...

Dada,

That must have been a wild gathering. Funny that Sammy made it known that you were HIS people. He is a brave little bugger fending off cinco dogs! Go, Sammy. What a nice treat.

Today my doggie, Frankie, was yelping to go potty and I was too tired to get up just yet so I patted the bed and called him and called him to no avail. Then, Girlfriend, one of my cats jumped up and the next thing you know Frankie was squished up tight against me and licking my face while Girlfriend licked his eyes. A menage a trois!

Anonymous said...

you are soooo lucky our Lab was not there on that walk to give young Sam any bad ideas. the natural behavior of predators can be quite off-putting, not to mention the horrendous outcome for the prey. that's why it's doubly amazing that those same fearsome predators, if they are raised with prey critters, somehow become friends & won't harm them. in the past, we've had dogs, cats, parakeets, bunnies & yes even a big old white rat all live in peace. At least that's what I thought, but now I see what you & Pursey are saying: perhaps it was extreme jealousy that bound them together! ~~ D.K.

Anonymous said...

That walk with Sammy Cincos sounded absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed your pictures (as always!) and the adorable bunny story!!