Another Adventure in Keep Away

My wonderful, adorable, caring puppy loves to play keep away. And not just any keep away. The kind that has me huffing and puffing running after him while he zooms around the yard with whatever I want him to drop in his mouth. He thinks this is the most fun he has ever had. I on the other hand want to tackle him to the ground, put him in the kennel, and then take a long nap from all the extra energy that I am putting forth.

So.....story time.

---

It was on a hot Friday afternoon. I had just completed my first week at my new job. Things were going fine. The boy was smelling all the smells, and enjoying life. We had just played in the mini pool that I got for him to cool off in the southern heat.

I was sitting on the back porch reading my book and just enjoying my day. When I noticed the boy was really interested in something. He was pouncing on it funny like he was trying to get whatever it was to play with him.

It was at this time I noticed that there were two birds dive bombing him. Pecking at his head, back, and butt area. And he gave zero fucks. He was so focused on whatever he had cornered that the birds pecking the hell out of him to try to get him away from whatever it was did not even phase him.

*Side note: The boy get super focused on a smell, thing, or an objective to do something that he will not hear or see anything else. He will not hear me when I tell him to come, drop it, or anything that I yell at him.

The birds dive bombing him started to concern me, so I decided to investigate.

HE HAD A BABY BIRD PINNED DOWN!!

The little wings were flapping around and chirping loudly. This is not the first time that the boy has encountered a baby bird hopping into the fence area, but this is the first time that he has one cornered.

I call him, he surprisingly comes easily. I put him on a lead line.

Thinking the manner has been cleared up, I go back to reading and request my husband check the area to double check the bird has hopped out, or gotten away at some point.

Got the all clear from the hubby.

I released the boy.

It was not all clear. I repeat......IT WAS NOT ALL CLEAR.

The boy immediately went back to the spot he was at before (that I ASKED MY HUBBY TO CHECK) and he grabbed the baby bird and took off.

Now begins the fun filled game of Keep Away, his version. He zigs and zags, while I am barefoot running around the yard begging him to drop it. I even tried to get the good treats. That didn't even help, he was having way too much fun.

At one point I got him cornered, asked him to drop it, but he just doubled down. He brought the bird farther into his mouth and got a better grip on it. And that is when the poor baby bird died. I yelled at him and he took off.

There was a lot of running around, me screaming at him and my hubby....well, he calmly walked around the yard not really helping me at all. I was thoroughly pissed at both of them. If I could have I would have put my hubby in time out as well as the boy.

I finally got him to drop the bird with some fresh cooked chicken. I was so mad at him, I picked him up (all 60lbs of him), and put him in his kennel. He stayed there for a good hour.

Now I walk the yard to make sure there are no baby birds for him to try to 'play' with. Lesson learned.