Perception
There was some great weather in downeast Maine this weekend. I think we're entering mud season early. Dio, true to his nature, wanted to be outside. Being warm outside (relative to the previous four months) he wanted to spend longer periods out.
On our walk, we went down to the loop road that runs by most of the condo units. He discovered the lighter areas of pavement are dry and the darker, wet. This led him to dashing across wet regions to reach dry. We reached a part of the road that was still covered in ice, slush and snow so we turned around.
On the way back, Dio saw Gypsy watching us from the kitchen window. He changed course heading towards the window, pausing at the melting snow. Dio fancies himself a brave outdoor cat, but doesn't like wet or cold. Even so, he was determined to reach Gypsy so put the first paw in the snow and sank up to his shoulder.
One step at a time, he made his way through the snow to the side of the building where the gravel was exposed. Recovering his dignity, he began again, majestically making his way to the kitchen window when melt water dripped off the roof onto his back and he took off like a shot. He recovered again only to realize that he was seven feet below the kitchen window.
His mind had been fixed on getting to Gypsy to the point where he endured leg-deep snow and water only to find that his goal was out of reach. I decided to take pity on him and lifted him up to the window where he and Gypsy proceeded to sniff noses and twitch their ears. Dio finally wanted down. His body language said, "enough of this, I'm going in." Having learned from the previous water experience, he waited for the water to drop and then sprinted along the side of the building. I released the lead to prevent him from snapping up into the air when he reached the maximum length of my arm plus the lead. There he was on the doorstep, ears back and staring at the doorknob.
Back inside I offered to take Gypsy out. I had been rather lax with the harness training for him because of the fit he throws when I try to put it on. That and he hasn't shown an inclination for going outside this winter. He decided that (for now) he would rather stay inside than go outside wearing a harness.
On our walk, we went down to the loop road that runs by most of the condo units. He discovered the lighter areas of pavement are dry and the darker, wet. This led him to dashing across wet regions to reach dry. We reached a part of the road that was still covered in ice, slush and snow so we turned around.
On the way back, Dio saw Gypsy watching us from the kitchen window. He changed course heading towards the window, pausing at the melting snow. Dio fancies himself a brave outdoor cat, but doesn't like wet or cold. Even so, he was determined to reach Gypsy so put the first paw in the snow and sank up to his shoulder.
One step at a time, he made his way through the snow to the side of the building where the gravel was exposed. Recovering his dignity, he began again, majestically making his way to the kitchen window when melt water dripped off the roof onto his back and he took off like a shot. He recovered again only to realize that he was seven feet below the kitchen window.
His mind had been fixed on getting to Gypsy to the point where he endured leg-deep snow and water only to find that his goal was out of reach. I decided to take pity on him and lifted him up to the window where he and Gypsy proceeded to sniff noses and twitch their ears. Dio finally wanted down. His body language said, "enough of this, I'm going in." Having learned from the previous water experience, he waited for the water to drop and then sprinted along the side of the building. I released the lead to prevent him from snapping up into the air when he reached the maximum length of my arm plus the lead. There he was on the doorstep, ears back and staring at the doorknob.
Back inside I offered to take Gypsy out. I had been rather lax with the harness training for him because of the fit he throws when I try to put it on. That and he hasn't shown an inclination for going outside this winter. He decided that (for now) he would rather stay inside than go outside wearing a harness.