Smart Dog

Monday, December 21, 2009

Usually I think Boogie the Giant Schnauzer is dumber than a box of rocks. Don't get me wrong - he's the sweetest dog EVAH, and quite a handsome boy, but he's never exactly been the sharpest knife in the drawer.This morning, however, he proved that he at least has some common sense, even if he'll never understand the doggie version of E=mc2.

I had an early meeting this morning on the North end of town, so Boogie and I headed out on our daily walkie at 5:30 a.m. Since it's you know, the Winter Solstice, and there wasn't much of a moon, it was pitch dark in the open space where we normally walk.

Boogie has been taking his walks off-leash for many years now, as long as there's no one else on the path. He usually does a good job of staying within my sight, and when we walk in the dark, he tends to stay even closer, being the good, good boy that he is. Occasionally, though, we lose sight of each other. The path is slightly hilly, and it's easy to do with a black dog. Usually it's me losing sight of him (of course), but when I call him, he trots right over and we head off again.

This morning, however, when we lost sight of each other, he apparently couldn't see me, either. I called and called, and  - no Boogie. I started walking back along the path, calling the whole way. The closer I got to the sidewalk that leads to the Big Yellow House, the tighter my chest became as my anxiety mounted. I decided to continue to the house, just to see if he had made his way home. If he wasn't there, I decided, I'd head back along the path one more time before heading into full-blown panic mode and getting the Smart Man to help me look for him. As I approached the house, I softly called his name, and his head appeared around the corner of the garage. As soon as he saw me, his ears immediately went back and he trotted over, wagging and wiggling, obviously happy to see me.

As near as I can figure, he couldn't see me, so decided the best thing to do was to go home and wait at the front door for someone to come and let him in. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see him waiting for me, as he gave me quite a scare. I think he was scared, too, so headed to the place where he knew he'd be safe.

What a good, good boy.

7 comments:

Gristle McThornbody said...

Ah, yes. I know that panic well.

I have two that are in cahoots to send me to an early grave. As long as I keep the old dame, Betty, on leash I can walk them over hill and dale.

After about the fifth time of her bolting and, of course, taking the snot-nosed boxer with her, I finally realized I was the one with the learning disability for continuing to let her run off-leash. Mine would be gone for hours, literally, while I fretted that they'd fallen through a frozen pond or gotten hit by a car or been in a dog fight with thug rottweilers.

I can't imagine my life without dogs. I'm glad Boogie (love that name) made it home.

Janiece said...

Thanks, Mrs. Bitch. Boogie's really rather a timid boy, so running off for hours on unknown adventures really isn't his style.

And his name is actually a nickname. His real name is "Baron," but he's such a big goofball, "Boogie" seems to fit him better than a moniker that oozes dignity and authority. Because believe me, he has NEITHER.

Carol Elaine said...

So very happy Boogie was a good, good boy. I know how much you love that goofball and I'd hate to think that anything would happen to him.

Once my black cat Matisse was gone for three days, right around Halloween. I lived in a single story triplex at the time and had accidentally left a window slightly open. Not enough space for a burglar to get in, but just enough space to facilitate the escape of a cat who occasionally dreamed of his wild roving says on the mean streets of Pasadena.

A few nights later (nights and days filled with panicked searching and calling out to him, occasionally hearing cat fights outside my bedroom window as I tried to sleep) I found him in my neighbor's bushes and pieced together what had happened: he got out, then wanted to get back home but couldn't because a stray cat who lived under my building kept chasing him away, not knowing Matisse had every right to be there. So he stayed nearby, hoping his kitty mommy would discover his whereabouts.

After that he wasn't as keen to head outside. Right now he's perfectly happy to stay the hell inside.

Jim Wright said...

Glad Boogie is ok, Janiece. I know how much he means to you.

Janiece said...

Thanks, guys. It was quite a relief to see him waiting there!

Anne C. said...

It's not often that we say this, but: "Good Boogie! What a SmartDog you are!"

So glad he's OK.

anissa_roy said...

I too have a black dog who becomes invisible at night. I also have a sandy-red one - the same color as a dingo - who is damn near invisible at twilight.

You may have already solved this problem since it's been 18 months since the entry, but if not, get a lighted collar. I use one in addition to my dog's regular collar, and it makes it much easier to see her. There are also small flashing lights that attach to the collar alongside the tags.