Walking on the Wildside with my "Timberwolves"
So. I learned tonight that not only are huskies incredibly beautiful and loving, but they also have ridiculous hearing. I wanted to go for a walk because both Maddox and I were antsy. It was still a little warm out for a walk (81 degrees) but thought just a real quick walk would be okay.
Shelby was fast asleep in my room on her pillow. I snuck out of the bedroom, shooing Maddox out ahead of me.
Two seconds after I clipped Maddox's Halti on (as shown in user pic--it is not a muzzle, more a bridle for dogs or, well, a halter) the wildest caterwauling issued forth from my bedroom! Shelby knew EXACTLY what was going on! Never mind that they had not been taken for a walk since Nick was here last fall! SHE KNEW!!!
Defeated, I decided oh well okay, I will give it a try. Walking one husky is quite the feat (just getting them out the door, they are so eager to run run run run sled or no sled) but TWO? I'd already suffered from a wrenched shoulder once! I sure didn't want that again--I was in agony, ended up twice at a chiro's and a one hour massage that finally saved my sanity.
Anyway, I have to say that I was rather amazed at how well they did. Shelby settled down really quickly, just Doofus boy Maddox was bouncing all over. Typical male.
I managed to take some pictures on our adventure--and it was definitely an adventure. These two are very sweet dogs but they have high prey drives, so the four or so rabbits we saw? Yeah. There's a reason each dog wears two leashes and two collars. I couldn't find Shelby's nice leashes so had to break out two cheapies. Colorful, but not very good. I'll get her a harness and find that other Halti asap as I want to do this soon.
We had to take a different route tonight because of an evil yappatizer barring our path. It was a little white poodle that was ready to tear my two apart. So we took a different route, chased halfway down the street by that thing. On the way, one guy said, "Hey! Are those timberwolves?" Most people do think they are wolves. Geesh. These creampuffs? Snort.
"Finally she takes us out walking, but then she makes us stop and pose?"
Tails in motion. (they bounce as they walk and I just love them) Not far from here we ran into some kids who had a pit bull. She had a pink collar on and wanted to PLAY and was quite distressed my two ignored her. She was not worthy, of course. Only other Siberians are...and this breed really does buddy up with their own kind. Snobs.
Thanks to the detour, we ran out of sidewalk. This is Shelby looking for a rabbit snack, but this meadow was full of those evil arrow-head things that you torment each other with when kids, ouch! All in my socks!
Always, always, looking for rabbits. Always. After this, we scared a guy (not his girlfriend) off the sidewalk, three kids asked if they would bite (no of course not), and I picked up two other kids who had been playing basketball and they walked part of the way with me, and we talked dogs. These two always are conversation starters. Alot of the kids we run across in my neighborhood are afraid of them, but then these two boys? No problem. They shared their water, they got smothered by Maddox kisses (really wanted to take a picture but didn't think it appropriate) and even Shelby gave a slurp or two. She tired of them quickly--I have a tiny edge of not trusting her even now--so we walked on. I answered LOTS of questions and of course they wanted to know would we have puppies? (NO!)
Shelby is Nick's baby girl. She tuckers out alot faster than Maddox does. By the time we were headed for home, she was walking beside me, leashes completely loose. She was ready for her bowl of water! Maddox would've kept on, but I was worried about Shelby.
One last one of Shelby, recovering.
Have to say, the walk was a success. I just wish there was a way to get them water partway through, and that it wasn't so blasted warm in the evenings. Sucks, but having Huskies in Texas will always be hard on them. They sure are peaceful now! Ahhh!!!!
Shelby was fast asleep in my room on her pillow. I snuck out of the bedroom, shooing Maddox out ahead of me.
Two seconds after I clipped Maddox's Halti on (as shown in user pic--it is not a muzzle, more a bridle for dogs or, well, a halter) the wildest caterwauling issued forth from my bedroom! Shelby knew EXACTLY what was going on! Never mind that they had not been taken for a walk since Nick was here last fall! SHE KNEW!!!
Defeated, I decided oh well okay, I will give it a try. Walking one husky is quite the feat (just getting them out the door, they are so eager to run run run run sled or no sled) but TWO? I'd already suffered from a wrenched shoulder once! I sure didn't want that again--I was in agony, ended up twice at a chiro's and a one hour massage that finally saved my sanity.
Anyway, I have to say that I was rather amazed at how well they did. Shelby settled down really quickly, just Doofus boy Maddox was bouncing all over. Typical male.
I managed to take some pictures on our adventure--and it was definitely an adventure. These two are very sweet dogs but they have high prey drives, so the four or so rabbits we saw? Yeah. There's a reason each dog wears two leashes and two collars. I couldn't find Shelby's nice leashes so had to break out two cheapies. Colorful, but not very good. I'll get her a harness and find that other Halti asap as I want to do this soon.
We had to take a different route tonight because of an evil yappatizer barring our path. It was a little white poodle that was ready to tear my two apart. So we took a different route, chased halfway down the street by that thing. On the way, one guy said, "Hey! Are those timberwolves?" Most people do think they are wolves. Geesh. These creampuffs? Snort.
"Finally she takes us out walking, but then she makes us stop and pose?"
Tails in motion. (they bounce as they walk and I just love them) Not far from here we ran into some kids who had a pit bull. She had a pink collar on and wanted to PLAY and was quite distressed my two ignored her. She was not worthy, of course. Only other Siberians are...and this breed really does buddy up with their own kind. Snobs.
Thanks to the detour, we ran out of sidewalk. This is Shelby looking for a rabbit snack, but this meadow was full of those evil arrow-head things that you torment each other with when kids, ouch! All in my socks!
Always, always, looking for rabbits. Always. After this, we scared a guy (not his girlfriend) off the sidewalk, three kids asked if they would bite (no of course not), and I picked up two other kids who had been playing basketball and they walked part of the way with me, and we talked dogs. These two always are conversation starters. Alot of the kids we run across in my neighborhood are afraid of them, but then these two boys? No problem. They shared their water, they got smothered by Maddox kisses (really wanted to take a picture but didn't think it appropriate) and even Shelby gave a slurp or two. She tired of them quickly--I have a tiny edge of not trusting her even now--so we walked on. I answered LOTS of questions and of course they wanted to know would we have puppies? (NO!)
Shelby is Nick's baby girl. She tuckers out alot faster than Maddox does. By the time we were headed for home, she was walking beside me, leashes completely loose. She was ready for her bowl of water! Maddox would've kept on, but I was worried about Shelby.
One last one of Shelby, recovering.
Have to say, the walk was a success. I just wish there was a way to get them water partway through, and that it wasn't so blasted warm in the evenings. Sucks, but having Huskies in Texas will always be hard on them. They sure are peaceful now! Ahhh!!!!