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Interpreting Dog Body Language
Interested in interpreting the body language of your dog or that pesky dog down the street? (click on image)
The Beauty of Dog: A Video
I put this together as a celebration of the many type of breeds and lifestyles dogs have in our lives--from the poverty of Calcutta to the exuberance of a wealthy billionaire, dogs are part of life for all. If you're like me, after watching this you want to run and hug your dog.--Joe
Dog Intelligence Rankings
Nothing like controversy right?
Everyone thinks their doggy is #1
Check out this ranking of dog intelligence based on number of times a new command is understood. Maybe this explains how Sally magically found her way back home.
Ranking is from least to greatest
Everyone thinks their doggy is #1
Check out this ranking of dog intelligence based on number of times a new command is understood. Maybe this explains how Sally magically found her way back home.
Ranking is from least to greatest
Ranks 70 to 79
Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 80 to 100 repetitions or more.
Obey First Command: 25% of the time or worse.
| Rank | Breed |
|---|---|
| 70 | Shih Tzu |
| 71 | Basset Hound |
| 72 | Mastiff Beagle |
| 73 | Pekingese |
| 74 | Bloodhound |
| 75 | Borzoi |
| 76 | Chow Chow |
| 77 | Bulldog |
| 78 | Basenji |
| 79 | Afghan Hound |
Ranks 55 to 69
Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
Ranks 40 to 54
Average Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 25 to 40 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 50% of the time or better.
Ranks 27 to 39
Above Average Working Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better
Ranks 11 to 26
Excellent Working Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.
Ranks 1 to 10
Brightest Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.
| Rank | Breed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Border Collie |
| 2 | Poodle |
| 3 | German Shepherd |
| 4 | Golden Retriever |
| 5 | Doberman Pinscher |
| 6 | Shetland Sheepdog |
| 7 | Labrador Retriever |
| 8 | Papillon |
| 9 | Rottweiler |
| 10 | Australian Cattle Dog |
Sally More Independent
Sally is really becoming more independent these days.I've noticed little things she has never done before.
Here's a few:
1. Walk out of the bathroom by herself to go outside.
She lives in the bathroom.
2. Smell the grass on a walk.
She used to only freeze and look over her shoulder when I stopped.
3. Bark.
The first six months she never bark. Now she barks daily.
4. Become donimate in play rather than submissive.
When she plays with Albert in the yard, she will go after him now.
5. Her tail is raised high, above her back.
She never use to do this. Always at her feet or between her back legs.
This is the longest I've ever had the SAME three dogs at once. I have not heard from the rescue worker either. Weird! Sally is from one organizati9on, George and Albert another.
Albert in the most likely to get adopted.
He is very strong willed. he needs a strong owner or he will want to 6take over and dominate everyone.
George is George...a risk to anyone, especially with a dog.
He needs a home w/no other dogs.
Sally needs a home with a patient, kind, sensitive, but not weak owner.
The tendency with Sally is to feel sorry for her. She does not need this. She needs an owner who will be pack leader. Also it must be someone who understands she is not a real touchy-feely dog. They will not be able to call her and see her run to them. She needs traiing and patience. Yet she is the easiest dog to take care of. She sits in her little space all day until you let her out. She is quiet. On walks she trots in place--no tugging. Sse looks like the perfect dog on a walk because she is so obidient. A loy of this is fear, but she is loosening up.
Mr. Majestic
Albert is a serious pretty boy...even has eyelashes!
I'm amazed he hasn't been adopted yet. Might be the economy and times.
On a sidenote...it really is difficult to capture good animal pics...worse than little kids.
I sometimes shoot 100 pics and like maybe 2.
I'm amazed he hasn't been adopted yet. Might be the economy and times.
On a sidenote...it really is difficult to capture good animal pics...worse than little kids.
I sometimes shoot 100 pics and like maybe 2.
Dog Whisperer: Aggression/ O'Reilly Factor
I continue to support The Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan (TDW).
My personality is to seek truth which means a balanced perspective. This means listening to the other side of an argument with open mindedness.
I recently read several articles criticizing Millan on his techniques. I do see some of their points, but if you do not subscribe to the Wolf Pack Theory that dogs are first:
animal > dog > breed > pet then more than likely you will adopt human psychology to dogs.
The simple reaction is dog's are not humans. Yet, the controversy surrounds this theme.
Cesar is not positive enough, doesn't praise the dogs or use treats.
One reviewer of the show analyzed an episode. Thanks to a good friend who turned me onto TDW, I have watched the episodes and took notes on each one, then I typed them up and categorized the information. This allowed me to be familiar with the context of specific shows.
That said, there was a lot of spin on the review. They were not fair and unbiased. They seemed to want to make their point no matter what. In short they did not;
First seek to understand, before being understood
I almost write someone off immediately here, but there were some good points made that I could add to my personal library of dog knowledge.
What TDW does I respect the most is honestly share the message that it is not the dog's fault in so many words. It is the dog owner that needs to change and thus rehabilitate the dog. It is never a one way street.
As a former elementary school teacher, at Parent-Conferences my message was the same. Most behavioral, and some academic problems/concerns were family matters, not just the child's problem. Sadly, many only wanted the message of, "How do I fix my kid" not the massage of "How can we as a family work together to solve this issue."
Dog Whisperer -Tough Case
A Lesson in Aggression
Cesar on O’Reilly
My personality is to seek truth which means a balanced perspective. This means listening to the other side of an argument with open mindedness.
I recently read several articles criticizing Millan on his techniques. I do see some of their points, but if you do not subscribe to the Wolf Pack Theory that dogs are first:
animal > dog > breed > pet then more than likely you will adopt human psychology to dogs.
The simple reaction is dog's are not humans. Yet, the controversy surrounds this theme.
Cesar is not positive enough, doesn't praise the dogs or use treats.
One reviewer of the show analyzed an episode. Thanks to a good friend who turned me onto TDW, I have watched the episodes and took notes on each one, then I typed them up and categorized the information. This allowed me to be familiar with the context of specific shows.
That said, there was a lot of spin on the review. They were not fair and unbiased. They seemed to want to make their point no matter what. In short they did not;
First seek to understand, before being understood
I almost write someone off immediately here, but there were some good points made that I could add to my personal library of dog knowledge.
What TDW does I respect the most is honestly share the message that it is not the dog's fault in so many words. It is the dog owner that needs to change and thus rehabilitate the dog. It is never a one way street.
As a former elementary school teacher, at Parent-Conferences my message was the same. Most behavioral, and some academic problems/concerns were family matters, not just the child's problem. Sadly, many only wanted the message of, "How do I fix my kid" not the massage of "How can we as a family work together to solve this issue."
Dog Whisperer -Tough Case
A Lesson in Aggression
Cesar on O’Reilly
LA Fires--AGAIN!
It was just a month ago that I experienced a serious fire close to home. Now it seems all of LA is in flames once again.
This time it was Sylmar, about three miles from home. The smoke was so bad I had to get out.
I was tired Friday night and went to bed at 10PM. At 10:48 I woke and smelled smoke.\
Not again!
I saw a red haze as I looked outside to the east.
By 2:30AM I had to get out. I called my dad and asked if I could crash at his place. I packed up all three dogs and headed out.
These fires have been a nightmare and over 500 homes, mostly senior citizens' were lost. Horrible. Unimaginable.
I had my own snag with a little dog bite I won't go into detail with. Let's just say it has been a long weekend!
This time it was Sylmar, about three miles from home. The smoke was so bad I had to get out.
I was tired Friday night and went to bed at 10PM. At 10:48 I woke and smelled smoke.\
Not again!
I saw a red haze as I looked outside to the east.
By 2:30AM I had to get out. I called my dad and asked if I could crash at his place. I packed up all three dogs and headed out.
These fires have been a nightmare and over 500 homes, mostly senior citizens' were lost. Horrible. Unimaginable.
I had my own snag with a little dog bite I won't go into detail with. Let's just say it has been a long weekend!
Cesar Millan Seminar 12/6 in Atlanta
.
I had the wonderful surprise recently of being contacted by Cesar Millan's people. It is my joy to share with you the following seminar information.
Cesar Millan Seminar
Saturday, December 6th, at 2 PM
Atlanta, GA - John A. Williams Theatre
at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Premium tickets, which include a Meet-and-Greet with Cesar after the show, will be on sale for $250.
Regular tickets range from $150 - $25, depending on how far they are from the stage.
Tickets available on Ticketmaster.com.
Direct link here:
More information available here:
"I just want you to understand that instincts are just as important as love. Instincts are just as important as intelligence. Instincts are just as important as spirituality. In the end, they all work together, and to me, that is the experience of being complete. To have the ability to be instinctually, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually connected.
Dogs can give you access to that -- animals can give you access to that -- but they must be balanced. The balance is what gives you the connection. An unstable dog will not trigger that. You can pray all day long, and a dog will not become balanced. You actually have to do the exercise and practice the discipline in order for him to become balanced, because he is part of Mother Nature. You can’t just wish for something. You must act on it. If you want a balanced dog, you have to practice what creates the balance.
And you have to listen to your dog when he says, this human is unstable. Absolutely, I don’t go to a meeting without Daddy present. He’s my instincts; he’s my guidance. If he fights, flights, or avoids you, we’re not doing business. He’s that honest. To me, a dog represents honesty, integrity, and loyalty…which are sometimes hard to find in humans!"
Cesar Millan
Baltimore, MD Seminar
September 30, 2007
I had the wonderful surprise recently of being contacted by Cesar Millan's people. It is my joy to share with you the following seminar information.
Cesar Millan Seminar
Saturday, December 6th, at 2 PM
Atlanta, GA - John A. Williams Theatre
at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Premium tickets, which include a Meet-and-Greet with Cesar after the show, will be on sale for $250.
Regular tickets range from $150 - $25, depending on how far they are from the stage.
Tickets available on Ticketmaster.com.
Direct link here:
More information available here:
"I just want you to understand that instincts are just as important as love. Instincts are just as important as intelligence. Instincts are just as important as spirituality. In the end, they all work together, and to me, that is the experience of being complete. To have the ability to be instinctually, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually connected.Dogs can give you access to that -- animals can give you access to that -- but they must be balanced. The balance is what gives you the connection. An unstable dog will not trigger that. You can pray all day long, and a dog will not become balanced. You actually have to do the exercise and practice the discipline in order for him to become balanced, because he is part of Mother Nature. You can’t just wish for something. You must act on it. If you want a balanced dog, you have to practice what creates the balance.
And you have to listen to your dog when he says, this human is unstable. Absolutely, I don’t go to a meeting without Daddy present. He’s my instincts; he’s my guidance. If he fights, flights, or avoids you, we’re not doing business. He’s that honest. To me, a dog represents honesty, integrity, and loyalty…which are sometimes hard to find in humans!"
Cesar Millan
Baltimore, MD Seminar
September 30, 2007
Obsessive Behavior
Obsessive behavior is a problem for both animals and humans.
Dogs like Albert and George, even Sally obsess to the point of creating imbalance in their lives. Left unchecked, these behaviors will only get worse living in a controlled environment like a home or talking a walk.
God has a good sense of humor. He gave me three dogs to foster that summarize many of my own personal issues--anxiety, aggression, fear.
Albert is anxious, then obsessive.
George is aggressive, then obsessive
Sally is fearful and paranoid which is a form of obsession, but it is a phobia
The dogs obsessive behavior, whether is starts in the thinking (brian) or is just reaction, must be stopped as early as possible.
All dogs have symptoms of behavior. Each dog owner needs to know the symptoms and stop the obsession before it escalates.
The Walk
During my walk with Albert, it is always a challenge. I've had Albert since October. He is a classic "puller." When he sees another dog he goes into overdrive. He wants to pull towards the dog, cat, squirrel and will not back off.
Labradors are hunters and need a challenge. They are high energy dogs needing daily exercise.
When Albert begins to obsess I can see the symptoms in his eyes, ears, and tail. I have a short period of time to use a leash technique to correct him. He is so willful this usually does no good if I miss the early stages. I then have to block him and correct his face to look away.
The Tennis Ball
George is another story. When I first got him he obsessed over other dogs. That is corrected for the most part today. He obsesses over a tennis ball now. It is very intense and imbalanced.
Any dog must give up whatever it has in its mouth to the pack leader.
George gets hold of the tennis ball and tries to annihilate it. He goes into kill mode. This is very imbalanced behavior that must be corrected.
When George gets like this I can get in his face and put my hand right next to his mouth, but he will not let the ball go.
One technique I've used is play with the ball (see videos) while George circles and chases it. This gets him obsessed. Then I throw the ball over the back fence. He can see it and get to it, but not grab it.
Now I have more control and can intervene. I step in front of the ball to block him and use a snap technique that simulate a pack leader bite. Usually this does nothing at first.
I've also turned the hose on him to break his obsessing. This is a glorified snap. It works. I immediately then go back to the ball and associate the hose with a verbal command and then a hand motion.
My aim is to not use the hose or any snap, but just a verbal command to break his obsession.
We are not there yet.
Not Humanizing by Feeling Sorry
Sally is timid and fearful. She is the opposite of Albert.
Sally has come a long way over the seven months I've had her. She was pathetic when I first got her.
I can walk and ride with Sally on my bike, but she is still fearful. She is always looking over her shoulder and when I approach her on the leach she tries to run away. She also stops before we get to the door at home. She will not go inside, and when she gets inside she freezes, clutching her nails into the carpet.
This is classic phobia, when an obsession continues to grow. It is totally irrational. She has been in the same house for seven months, yet she acts like it was the first time she entered.
With Sally, I have to be strong pack leader and not feel sorry for her. I have to lead her without hesitation and with calm aggressive energy. Sally cannot handle any type of weakness.
I made the mistake at first like many do by humanizing Sally with compassion. What I was doing was reinforcing her fears with affection.
Rule #1: Never give affection to a dog that is NOT in a calm submissive state of energy.
By humanizing Sally, I was making myself feel better, but not the dog. I was making her worse, not better.
Sally has a long way to go. Sometime I have to put her down and hold her in a bite grip similar to a pack leader in the wild. She needs to submit and calm down. This looks cruel to the outsider, but actually allows the dog to become calm and submissive.
Obsessive behavior is predominate in American dogs, probably European as well.
Two ways to deal with it are;
1. Consistent energy specifically catered to your dogs unique breed. Some breeds need to burn more energy daily than others. Be wise before you get a dog. Know your lifestyle!
2. Know you dog's symptoms. Correct the behavior before it escalates. You must know your dogs symptoms first. It might be ears that move backward, a tongue that licks, a tail that raises, eyes that become intense...whatever it is, know it and correct it early on.
With George, it is always in his eyes and his breathing. I see him escalate this way. If I don't correct it, he becomes territorial and growls. The next stage is biting.
Always, the behavior is outside of the CALM SUBMISSIVE state which is the key to all of this. Any behaviors that are not calm submissive need to be corrected by;
1. Ignoring the dog
2. Not giving eye contact
3. Not giving affection.
Dogs like Albert and George, even Sally obsess to the point of creating imbalance in their lives. Left unchecked, these behaviors will only get worse living in a controlled environment like a home or talking a walk.
God has a good sense of humor. He gave me three dogs to foster that summarize many of my own personal issues--anxiety, aggression, fear.
Albert is anxious, then obsessive.
George is aggressive, then obsessive
Sally is fearful and paranoid which is a form of obsession, but it is a phobia
The dogs obsessive behavior, whether is starts in the thinking (brian) or is just reaction, must be stopped as early as possible.
All dogs have symptoms of behavior. Each dog owner needs to know the symptoms and stop the obsession before it escalates.
The Walk
During my walk with Albert, it is always a challenge. I've had Albert since October. He is a classic "puller." When he sees another dog he goes into overdrive. He wants to pull towards the dog, cat, squirrel and will not back off.
Labradors are hunters and need a challenge. They are high energy dogs needing daily exercise.
When Albert begins to obsess I can see the symptoms in his eyes, ears, and tail. I have a short period of time to use a leash technique to correct him. He is so willful this usually does no good if I miss the early stages. I then have to block him and correct his face to look away.
The Tennis Ball
George is another story. When I first got him he obsessed over other dogs. That is corrected for the most part today. He obsesses over a tennis ball now. It is very intense and imbalanced.
Any dog must give up whatever it has in its mouth to the pack leader.
George gets hold of the tennis ball and tries to annihilate it. He goes into kill mode. This is very imbalanced behavior that must be corrected.
When George gets like this I can get in his face and put my hand right next to his mouth, but he will not let the ball go.
One technique I've used is play with the ball (see videos) while George circles and chases it. This gets him obsessed. Then I throw the ball over the back fence. He can see it and get to it, but not grab it.
Now I have more control and can intervene. I step in front of the ball to block him and use a snap technique that simulate a pack leader bite. Usually this does nothing at first.
I've also turned the hose on him to break his obsessing. This is a glorified snap. It works. I immediately then go back to the ball and associate the hose with a verbal command and then a hand motion.
My aim is to not use the hose or any snap, but just a verbal command to break his obsession.
We are not there yet.
Not Humanizing by Feeling Sorry
Sally is timid and fearful. She is the opposite of Albert.
Sally has come a long way over the seven months I've had her. She was pathetic when I first got her.
I can walk and ride with Sally on my bike, but she is still fearful. She is always looking over her shoulder and when I approach her on the leach she tries to run away. She also stops before we get to the door at home. She will not go inside, and when she gets inside she freezes, clutching her nails into the carpet.
This is classic phobia, when an obsession continues to grow. It is totally irrational. She has been in the same house for seven months, yet she acts like it was the first time she entered.
With Sally, I have to be strong pack leader and not feel sorry for her. I have to lead her without hesitation and with calm aggressive energy. Sally cannot handle any type of weakness.
I made the mistake at first like many do by humanizing Sally with compassion. What I was doing was reinforcing her fears with affection.
Rule #1: Never give affection to a dog that is NOT in a calm submissive state of energy.
By humanizing Sally, I was making myself feel better, but not the dog. I was making her worse, not better.
Sally has a long way to go. Sometime I have to put her down and hold her in a bite grip similar to a pack leader in the wild. She needs to submit and calm down. This looks cruel to the outsider, but actually allows the dog to become calm and submissive.
Obsessive behavior is predominate in American dogs, probably European as well.
Two ways to deal with it are;
1. Consistent energy specifically catered to your dogs unique breed. Some breeds need to burn more energy daily than others. Be wise before you get a dog. Know your lifestyle!
2. Know you dog's symptoms. Correct the behavior before it escalates. You must know your dogs symptoms first. It might be ears that move backward, a tongue that licks, a tail that raises, eyes that become intense...whatever it is, know it and correct it early on.
With George, it is always in his eyes and his breathing. I see him escalate this way. If I don't correct it, he becomes territorial and growls. The next stage is biting.
Always, the behavior is outside of the CALM SUBMISSIVE state which is the key to all of this. Any behaviors that are not calm submissive need to be corrected by;
1. Ignoring the dog
2. Not giving eye contact
3. Not giving affection.
The Obama Dog
It seems to always be this way. A political speech before the world for the soon to be president of the United States of America and he mentions a puppy for his kids. What does the media obsess over...
THE PUPPY!
Maybe this is because a puppy is something we understand in a complex time...light & easy.
So here's the good news. This puppy news has brought a lot of attention to dog rescue. I listen to both conservative and liberal talk radio and the Progressives have been discussing this...thanks The Ed Shultz Show Friday 11/7/08.
Some headlines:
'Most shelter dogs are mutts like me':
Obama defies political correctness at first press conference
Obama dogged by pet challenge
Country weighs in as the first family-elect ponders a pooch for the White House
The Next Big Issue: Obama Dog
Obama girls eager to reap spoils of Dad's victory: A dog
Obama looking for non-allergic dog
Doo the right thing, Obama, forget the dog
Spokanimal has suggestions for Obama's Dog
Whatever the decision...if it brings positive attention to the dog rescue/foster/adoption effort...he has my vote.
.
All 3 Together
just another lazy dayWell...they said it couldn't happen!
I was told direct (I hope the rescue leader doesn't read this...if so I'm sure I will be getting a phone call shortly) to NEVER put George and Albert together!
NEVER...EVER...not even with a muzzle on!
If ya don't take risks, then are ya really livin'?
I take a lot of "risks" with the dogs, but within reason. I was an elementary school teacher for 13 years. I'd hope I learned a little about classroom management in that time.
The crossover actually from the classroom to the dogs has been productive.Kids and dogs have lots in common. They are impulsive, want treats all the time, like a lot of attention, need structure, boundaries, and challenges...the list goes on.
I am most happy so far (when Sally comes around it will top this...) of having all three dogs cohabitate together.
I am always in the scene when George and Albert are together, but can become less involved as time goes on. George is with Sally a lot and never has bothered her once. I think he knows Sally is off limits and any attempt to harm her will result in serious damage. Dogs sense energy...so I've been told.
I took all three dogs on a walk for the first time thanks to my neighbor Jean-Pierre.
JP took George in his car and I drove with Sally and Albert. I feel I could get away with driving all three dogs, but why risk it. Once George grabs and bites, it's all over unless you have a break stick.
We went to the Sesnon Trail--this is where the last wildfire fire was. I've been here before and like to take the dogs hiking here.
Sally enjoying a cool bath
Hangin' with the gangAlbert was insane this day...dog is the
strongest willed animal I've ever been around
.
Underdogs
NATURE’s Underdogs tells the poignant story of two misfits whose lives were turned around by people who saw their potential for greatness.Holly and Herbie were renegade youths. Troubled and defiant, they were shuttled from home to home throughout their young lives; no family could manage their unruly conduct. But finally, each found someone who saw that beneath their mischievous veneers were two highly intelligent and gifted animals.
Holly, an 85-pound bloodhound, chewed everything in sight and by the time she was 10 months old, had been removed from six different homes. She was languishing in a shelter, with her days numbered, until professional dog trainer Larry Allen intervened. Having trained countless bloodhounds for law enforcement agencies across the United States, Allen sets out to help Holly harness her natural abilities as a tracker in the hope that one day she would become a competent police dog.
Herbie, a two-year-old bearded collie, couldn’t rein in his impish personality or his penchant for attacking livestock. His errant ways had put him at risk of being shot by a local farmer. Fortunately, sheepdog trainer Barbara Sykes sensed Herbie was more than just a marauder. In her gentle yet firm manner, she coaches him hoping to hone his skills to herd rather than bite sheep on her working farm in England.
Beginning with the initial meeting between dog and trainer, viewers follow Sykes and Allen as they apply their professional skills to transform these misfit mutts into the noble working dogs they were bred to be. As their stories unfold, we witness the powerful bond that develops between trainer and pupil.
Celebrate the beauty of a second chance with these remarkable and resilient Underdogs.
Catch this episode on PBS if you can!
.
Unhappy Halloween
I took all three dogs on a run Halloween before it got busy with the usual candy mongers, however, there isn’t a lot of action anymore. To be honest, the most action is the vans from LA that drive to the nicer neighborhoods to go house-to-house with their kids.
George has been pretty good lately so I decided to reward him before I went out. I took him to a park about 4 miles away. The drive was all uphill.
We drove to the park about 6PM just as it was getting dark. There is a big grass area and I let George loose being we were alone. The weather was nice, but thunderstorms were on the horizon.
It hasn’t rained in LA for so long I literally cannot remember the last time.
Being in the park all alone I laid down on the grass with George and just took some time to stare at the sky for a little bit.
George and I then walked some more and headed back. It was dark at this point and up ahead I saw some lights. There are no vehicles allowed in the park so it had to be the park ranger who lives on the grounds.
As the ranger drove slowly to make sure the park was empty, George and I jumped over a small wood fence in a ditch like we were in an action movie. We ducked down as the truck drove by.
Very exhilarating!
As we approached the exit I reached for my keys.
I had a very different horror take place this Halloween—that of empty pockets!
I had to get back home to be somewhere so I tracked back to the two places I could have lost my keys;
1. The place I laid down in the grass
2. The place I played James Bond jumping over the fence.
There was just enough light to barely see the ground.
George and I searched both places ardently to no avail. The grass field and the fence were not close to each other—it was a trek to get to each place.
We now walked to the grass field and I searched.
Like a needle in a haystack!
I tried to narrow my search, but after over an hour of looking I decided to knock on the ranger’s front door…another hike to his place.
To my surprise he was very cool. He loaned us a flashlight. George and I went back to the fence and grass area. I was confident I would find my keys.
I had no luck at the fence area. I trekked back and forth three times. At the grass field I searched with no success and I knew it had to be here because I laid down again and with my knees up and my pockets opened.
IT HAD TO BE ON THE GRASS!
Confident of this, I literally combed the lawn in three feet sections walking back and forth for over an hour. I got serious grass blind! Everything looked green to me.
It was about 9pm by now. I hate to quit but I had no luck.
Back to the ranger’s house.
I asked for a phone and only know two numbers—my folks and my neighbor. My folks are too far away and we are not getting along too well right now and my neighbors never answer their landline. I got no answer.
Yes...I have no cell phone and am probably the only male over 12 that does not in America.
George and I walked home the four miles and it started to rain.
Are you kidding me! It hasn’t rained all year and tonight it rains.
We got home at 11pm. I was super tired.
When I got George he could barely walk two block, but tonight he limped all four miles and we even ran together before we went to the park. Then there was all the walking at the park. I was proud of him!
I didn’t sleep at all last night. I got up at 7AM, mounted my bike with two coat hangers, small binoculars, a jacket (it rained like a Tennessee thunderstorm last night) and rode the four miles uphill.
BRUTAL!!!
I felt sick when I finally got to the park. I began my route at my car and tried to recreate the path we took last night.
At the fence area I searched and saw nothing. Therefore, it HAD to be in the grass somewhere.
The grass area looked very different in the light. I searched where I did last night and saw nothing. I have a real hard time praying for such trivial things—I mean, God has more important things to do, but I prayed anyway like I did last night.
I was willing to accept whatever happened, similar to when I lost Sally last week which still stuns me.
After about 30 minutes I finally saw the little surfboard that holds my keys.
That felt good.
…yes, I made copies of my key today
George wiped outAlbert napping
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