Monday, July 14, 2008

Gus's trip to Lake

We headed to the lake this past weekend and had an interesting time. This was the first time in two years that Gus was able to come with us. He is attending school this summer and we wanted to try out his new found positive listening skills. Uncle Hal formerly called Gus “Bob Barker”; he was not real fond of Gus. This weekend he actual pet Gus and said he was not so bad anymore. We did not have any issues…well kindof…
Saturday night was a late night and Sunday was an early morning, thanks to Gus! Bill and I decided to sleep in the tent because Gus is not allowed in the cabin, Grandma Mac has issues with dogs and a strong dislikes for Gus. In fact, when we pulled up and Gus hopped out of the car her comment was, “I can not believe she brought that hoodlum of a dog down, he better not wreck anything.” I could tell that she was warming up to him. Soon she might even call him Gus instead of “that devil dog”.
Sunday morning we were awakened by Gus whinning at the tent door, so we hooked him to his cord and sent him outside to hang out. I fell back asleep because I assumed Bill was watching him, because he said he would. Silly me! After waking up to Bill’s loud snoring I realized that I was wrong. There on the ground was Gus’s collar; you know the kind that no dog can take off. Ha! Ha!
My dad was coming back from getting the paper and he headed West in the trailblazer and Bill headed East in the Magnum. I knew better, I stood on the beach and looked about seven cabins down to see four doggie legs up in the air and the dog rubbing on the ground. I instantly knew that it was Gus and he was rubbing in something. I ran down the beach to him and said “GUS”, very loudly. He hopped up, sat down, and looked at me under his eye lids. Out of the side of his mouth hung a stinky, dead, decaying fish skeleton! Its pungent odor was horrendous; I could smell it five feet away. I said “Gus, come,” he did, and dropped the dead fish at my feet, I almost lost it, I have never smelt anything as horrible as this before. We walked back to the cabin together, me gagging and Gus with his head down. After my stomach and my temper calmed down, I was impressed that he listened to directions. I guess Obedience school is kind of working, right?????

3 comments:

Mandi said...

People sort of react like that when we bring Boone places too. Even worse is that, outside of our neighborhood, he has separation anxiety. So at the lake, if we go someplace or he can't see us he barks and howls like we're starving AND beating him ;) Reading your stories about Gus makes me wonder if he and Boone were maybe related in a past life or something!

Have you tried a harness and his collar? The harness is a litte more complicated for them to wriggle out of....usually.

~Mandi

Dana.stansbery said...

Gus has eaten three harnesses and currently owns two. However, the training people said we can not use the harness anymore because he will not need it, we will see.

Mandi said...

We have to replace them at least 2 times a year for both dogs. Crunch likes to eat the plastic loops that hold the straps together. And Boone...I dunno what he does to bust through his.

If your obedience class works out for Gus, let me know where you went. Maybe there's hope for Boon if Gus can be cured.

Totally unrelated, but Todd's baby may be coming soon (like Thursday, according to her myspace). We're having a post-baby celebration once things get a little more sorted out.