Friday - I drove into Durango today for some quick business. On the way, as I'm driving down the highway at sixty mph or so, up ahead, I see a big, lumbering beast crossing the highway. I think it was a beaver, but I'm not sure. I slowed down and changed lanes to "protect" him . . . and so many times this happens to me, you'd think I'd learn a lesson . . . my protection backfired. When he saw my car slow down to the side of him, he turned around and started back across . . . right in front of an oncoming truck! Thankfully, the guy saw him in time and slowed down and even pulled partially off the road to avoid hitting him. I feel so bad for animals that have to cross the dangerous road to live . . . this is indicative of habitat loss.
I learned something today. Moki has been nipping me lately, and I just thought it was puppy behavior. According to this great book called _Super Puppy_ that Pam gave me, biting, and some of his other behaviors are indications of dominant behavior. It's normal for a puppy to do this . . . it serves him in the wild . . . but, in a home situation, it must be controlled or you will end up the number two dog in the pack . . . and that "ain't" good! The book described how to put the puppy in different positions to basically show him that you're the boss. One of the positions . . . the puppy lying on his side, and you holding his scruff with one hand, and holding down his body with the other . . . well, Moki didn't like that one much. He screamed like a banshee! After doing it several times though (in a few hours time), he began to accept it and not fight much.
I was the number three dog in Tika's pack for eight years . . . and I don't want to do that again! So, I will remain diligent about encouraging submissive behavior with these practice positions.
Saturday - I drove into Cortez today to go to the Farmer's Market and the Craft Festival. The Craft Festival had a lot of Native American artists with their crafts. Amazing stuff.
Sunday - Rosemary came over and we drove to Cortez to have lunch. It was a great lunch, and then we went over to the Craft Festival again. Rosemary likes that kind of stuff, too. This will probably be the last time I see her for quite awhile. She's going on an extended road trip up to the north west through Oregon and Washington. I'll miss her a lot.
I've had Moki a week now, and he's already growing up. At first when I walked him, he would try to pick up every stick, every plant, every piece of gravel we came across. He wouldn't really "walk" . . . he would just explore and experience every thing he came across. I think it's the linear/non-linear deal.
Many years ago when Karen's son, Dylan, was just a toddler (I think he's twenty now,) I went to visit her and we went hiking. We followed a trail. But, Dylan didn't want to follow the trail. He just wanted to explore, and he ended up climbing straight up this big hill. Karen and I were thinking linear, and Dylan just wanted to experience and explore. Same with Moki.
So, that's how it's been, but today and maybe yesterday, he's started walking more . . . running sometimes, too! He still tries to pick up sticks and gravel and eat plants, but that's more secondary now.
The other difference in my cute, little guy is his sleep habits. He used to play and play and run around the house exploring and chewing inappropriate things, and eventually acting like a kid who is overtired. At that point, I would pick him up and put him in his "den," until he went to sleep. When he awakened a couple hours later, I would take him outside and then let him play again. This would go on many times during the day. But, now, when he gets tired, he just goes to sleep by himself . . . usually right at my feet, which is so sweet! He still occasionally does the overtired bit, and I have to put him in his den, but that's rare now. He sleeps when he's tired most of the time.
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