Doggies Go Camping.

    Went to Santee Lakes this week to spend some time sitting outside our motorhome watching the little stream gurgle by. It flows through a rock strewn bed surrounded by lush green grass, clear blue sky and the protective shade of aspen and maple leafed oak trees. There is dappled shade everywhere. If you watch a while, crows and herons and hawks come visiting, to complete the idyllic scene. We have chosen our favorite spot of the possible 3oo choices. A soft breeze blows the sweet smell of autumn falling leaves and fresh vibrant grass most of the day, completing this peaceful ambience.
    There are wandering paths and little bridges- and a lovely restroom and soda pop dispenser nearby. We walk a lot, leading highly excited and energetic little dogs, who spend a lot of time voicing their approval and endless joy each time another canine appears. We spend a lot of time pulling on the leashes and yelling "No Bark!" in our most commanding voices. We might as well be whispering to the winds.
    Benji, the pound dog, is a - once upon a time - boy dog. He exhibits his talent at this role by regularly lifting his leg on anything larger than he is. Since he is only about 8 inches high, this is way too often. He is a nose dog- sniffing everything along the way, and sometimes even offering to pee on the legs of friendly fellow campers. So far, I have thwarted this urge with a swift pull on the leash causing him to have to put his fat little leg down.
    Tinkerbelle, on the other hand, is a sight dog. She only sniffs if she thinks she has found a morsel of tasty yuck in the grass. She is a looker and a puller- always surveying the horizon for anything that moves, while voicing her approval of whatever beast or bird happens to be in sight. If she were three times her height, and weight ( 8in. high; 14lbs) she would be the perfect sled dog. She is most happy pulling resolutely forward against her choke chain! For her, the pull just feels good! Not so for me.
    My husband rides a scooter on these adventures, and after a good spell of pulling and skittering about, Tinkerbelle leaps on his cart and does her surveillence while resting on his shoes. If Benji decides to ride, which is seldom, he climbs up onto his master's lap where he has a better view. Can you tell the children are all gone?
    And yes, in reference to my last blog, we did find the perfect dog bed/kenned for the dogs at Wal-Mart. It is mainly nylon and mesh and very strong wire. It is a pop up masterpiece that can be folded into a small circle about 10 inches across. When opened, it pops suddenly out into a rectangle about 2 ft by 2 1/2 ft by2ft high. It has net windows on three sides- one with a zippered opening. It fits perfectly underneath the dinette in the motorhome. With a little pushing and encouraging, the doggies soon learned to like it. Plenty of room for them to sleep comfortably and view their surroundings at the same time.