Okay, so Meg is a bit...off. She always has been. One of her weirdest traits we've only discovered since I went to work at a "real" job where she couldn't come with me. She won't let most people take her off the property. If I'm not home, she will go for a walk with my mother probably 80% of the time. If I'm home, she won't leave with her.
She won't leave the property with my father, with whom she has lived the entire time I've owned her. She won't leave the property with my aunt, who goes for a walk with my mother, Meg and Gusto almost every day. Whatever. If someone comes to let the dogs out during the day, they take Meg out to the lawn to potty, and then put her back in the house and walk Gusto.
Well, tonight we went to our favorite hiking/swimming spot. Great 2 mile trail around the reservoir. We got stuck at the head of the trail between a family with a very slow walking child and an obese mix breed, and a young couple with a lab. Given Meg's usual issues with dogs, I just hit the trail booking it as fast as I could (fast walk, that is), so I'd put some distance between us.
I made it quickly to our usual swim spot, about a 5 minute fast walk up the trail - and realize I only have Gusto. I *never* lose either dog on a hike. They may run a bit ahead or up the side, but they don't take off or get lost. So, I stop and yell for a minute. I get the mixed breed, followed closely by his family. "Is that other little dog yours too?" "Yes"
Oh, she was just at the top of the hill with us (maybe 50 yards from where I was). We tried to get her to follow us down, but she just stood there."
So, I start hiking back up the hill, calling to Meg. No dog. Panic sets in, and I start jogging back, calling all the way. I've called this dog off deer at a full run. She doesn't ignore a recall. And I can yell and whistle really loudly.
I finally make it all the way back to the parking lot, and she's at the car, clearly overwhelmed with both stress and joy at seeing me and Gusto.
I am fully convinced she was headed to find me until these people, clearly in a sneaky attempt to kidnap her, told her to follow them.
There is not point to the story, other than...my dog is so weird.
She won't leave the property with my father, with whom she has lived the entire time I've owned her. She won't leave the property with my aunt, who goes for a walk with my mother, Meg and Gusto almost every day. Whatever. If someone comes to let the dogs out during the day, they take Meg out to the lawn to potty, and then put her back in the house and walk Gusto.
Well, tonight we went to our favorite hiking/swimming spot. Great 2 mile trail around the reservoir. We got stuck at the head of the trail between a family with a very slow walking child and an obese mix breed, and a young couple with a lab. Given Meg's usual issues with dogs, I just hit the trail booking it as fast as I could (fast walk, that is), so I'd put some distance between us.
I made it quickly to our usual swim spot, about a 5 minute fast walk up the trail - and realize I only have Gusto. I *never* lose either dog on a hike. They may run a bit ahead or up the side, but they don't take off or get lost. So, I stop and yell for a minute. I get the mixed breed, followed closely by his family. "Is that other little dog yours too?" "Yes"
Oh, she was just at the top of the hill with us (maybe 50 yards from where I was). We tried to get her to follow us down, but she just stood there."
So, I start hiking back up the hill, calling to Meg. No dog. Panic sets in, and I start jogging back, calling all the way. I've called this dog off deer at a full run. She doesn't ignore a recall. And I can yell and whistle really loudly.
I finally make it all the way back to the parking lot, and she's at the car, clearly overwhelmed with both stress and joy at seeing me and Gusto.
I am fully convinced she was headed to find me until these people, clearly in a sneaky attempt to kidnap her, told her to follow them.
There is not point to the story, other than...my dog is so weird.
