Playoff Time

April 12, 2007. Yesterday was both a bad day and a good day. The weather was nice and I had a great 1 hour run in the morning. I was really doing well with obedience.

Late in the afternoon, Tom took me for another run at the park. We went to a different area and after about a half hour is when I had my meltdown. A strange looking man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He had a blue Mohawk haircut, raggedy clothes and various piercings. He looked very threatening and neither Tom nor I saw him coming. I suddenly started circling him and barking at him. There was something about him that really bothered me.

Tom tried to call me off, but, I was not listening and he almost had to tackle me to keep me away from this guy. I was being very protective, but Tom was not happy about it and playtime ended with me back on the leash and taken home.

We sat down and watched the Canucks playoff game together. It lasted five and a half hours and went to 4 overtime periods before the Canucks won. I really like watching hockey with Tom, although he scared heck out of me when he yelled after the Canucks scored the winning goal.

Today was a different story though. We were out on the park again for our morning run. Helicopter Man was in his usual spot. If there was ever any doubt that this guy is going out of his way to provoke me, today removed that question. Helicopter Man always leaves the park by walking past the building and then up the sidewalk. He has done that every day since I arrived.

Not today though. This time he made a beeline from the pool to the outfield fence and began walking along it directly towards us. All the way along he kept reaching out and tapping the fence. Tom does that to get my attention sometimes. This time it was Helicopter Man. I know he does not like me since the last time I was anywhere near him he tried to kick me.

So, why, if he does not like me, would he go out of his way to attract my attention? His plan backfired though, because I completely ignored him and concentrated on Tom and my ball.

Shortly after that incident a fellow arrived with his two Schnauzers and he let them come and romp and play with me. I was very good. I did not jump on either one. I let the two of them chase me in circles and then I chased them. After they left a lady arrived with her two dogs. I thought one was my old buddy Milo, but it turns out this one was a female. She is also a rescue dog. We started out playing and then for no reason she attacked me. It came so suddenly and caught me by surprise that she quickly had me on my back and was going for my throat.

Tom jumped in and pulled her off me and saved me from a serious butt whooping. Tom got his hand bitten in the process. I don’t know whether it was me that got him or her, but I don’t think it was me. Luckily he had gloves on and it resulted in no more than a bruise and a little swelling.

The lady took her dog away and Tom and I stayed and played for the full hour. We then went for breakfast and met up with Renee at her other school across town. What a surprise and I was really happy to see her. There were a lot of those pesky bikes around though. Lots of kids in the school yard having lunch and looking at me too. All in all a very adventurous couple of days.