He gets impatient when I sit around the house, knitting and talking with Jen, which is what I love to do when we visit. Pongo always reminds me that he wants to be outside exploring, by pacing and barking at me. Finally, I indulge him. We go for a walk. After all, that is what it's all about to him - all the wonderful smells on acres of land, a dog treasure hunt or smorgasbord.
Pongo ignores the sheep in their pen and keeps his head to the ground, nosing in the dirt and grass.
Jen and Marcus let their chickens free range in the yard. It made me nervous the first few times we visited. I didn't trust Pongo with them. I was sure he might decide he wanted to chase one. I kept him on leash when he was first exposed to loose chickens, and I never leave him unsupervised with them. But he leaves them alone, focusing his attention on smells in the grass and the bushes.
Jen and Marcus currently have a cabin and a yurt on their property. We visited both as we took a walk. Here, Pongo says hello to Jen on the cabin porch.
Jen's son, Sam, stands chest to nose with their Great Pyrenees, Luther. Luther loves to escort us through the woods, as he knows every pathway. His job is to protect the farm animals from coyotes and other prey animals in the area. A gentle soul, Luther will steal your heart.
We fit in a vehicle search on Marcus' truck before we leave. It's a great opportunity to practice nose work in a new location with lots of distractions. At first, Pongo was more interested in smelling the surrounding terrain. I kept him on a short leash and paired treats with the odor.
Next, we drive North to Ferndale to visit my cousin, Aimee, Jen's older sister. Aimee and Homero have a small working farm with several animals. Here, the girls have just finished feeding the animals in the afternoon before it gets dark. Ivory greets them at the gate. Ivory is a greyhound mix who is about the same age as Pongo. Seven years ago, she stayed with Pongo and I for several weeks when Aimee and Homero went to Mexico. I love her dearly - it is always a joy to see her.
The cow is the newest addition to the farm.
Pongo meets Marley, a black lab, that Aimee's daughter, Rowan, acquired since the last time we visited. They instantly like each other, but Marley is only a couple years old and has way more energy than Pongo does. She wants to run and Pongo moves slowly at his own pace.
At Aimee's house, there are animals both inside and out. They now have two ferrets, who were sleeping in their cage. Pongo has never met ferrets. I thought it was a good idea they stay in their cage. Pongo once tried to eat my niece's gerbil. He only gave it up after we pried it out of his mouth. He definitely seems to have a strong prey drive for small rodents, which makes me continue to question his ancestral blood lines. While hiking with Pongo and my sister's dog, Calder, last year, Pongo showed no interest when we encountered a pheasant, but Calder had to be called off the chase. I am always fascinated how dogs have been bred for different purposes for thousands of years. In today's society, most dogs have lost the opportunity to do the jobs they were bred for. The result is that many dogs develop behavioral problems out of boredom, or a mismatch between the owner and dog's activity level. Sadly, a large number of them are given up to shelters or ultimately euthanized. In rescuing Pongo, who spent six months in a no-kill shelter in Washington, DC, my goal has been to provide him with the appropriate training and exercise to meet his individual needs. At times, it hasn't been easy. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that this is my commitment to Pongo. When I come home tired and all I want to do is sit back and relax on the couch, I remember my commitment to Pongo, and we go out the door.
Pongo sits happily sporting his winter snowflake bandanna ($1 at Walmart)! It has been a wonderful day visiting both our two- and four-legged family in the Bellingham area.
At Aimee's house, there are animals both inside and out. They now have two ferrets, who were sleeping in their cage. Pongo has never met ferrets. I thought it was a good idea they stay in their cage. Pongo once tried to eat my niece's gerbil. He only gave it up after we pried it out of his mouth. He definitely seems to have a strong prey drive for small rodents, which makes me continue to question his ancestral blood lines. While hiking with Pongo and my sister's dog, Calder, last year, Pongo showed no interest when we encountered a pheasant, but Calder had to be called off the chase. I am always fascinated how dogs have been bred for different purposes for thousands of years. In today's society, most dogs have lost the opportunity to do the jobs they were bred for. The result is that many dogs develop behavioral problems out of boredom, or a mismatch between the owner and dog's activity level. Sadly, a large number of them are given up to shelters or ultimately euthanized. In rescuing Pongo, who spent six months in a no-kill shelter in Washington, DC, my goal has been to provide him with the appropriate training and exercise to meet his individual needs. At times, it hasn't been easy. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that this is my commitment to Pongo. When I come home tired and all I want to do is sit back and relax on the couch, I remember my commitment to Pongo, and we go out the door.
Pongo sits happily sporting his winter snowflake bandanna ($1 at Walmart)! It has been a wonderful day visiting both our two- and four-legged family in the Bellingham area.
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