When you're angry, but can't let it rip
And then... pride takes over
Oh, oh, oh, that Nina.
For the uninitiated: Nina is my black Field Trial Labrador Lady. She needs a lot of (brain) work to keep her well, physically, mentally, and emotionally. So we've been doing basic obedience, tracking & trailing RCMP style, body balance, brain/nose work, detection, and hunt (retriever) training since I found a group that works without coercion and intimidation (unfortunately still very prevalent in the hunting world) and only with dummies.
A couple of days ago, we went for a walk and parked in our usual spot where we can go toward "Loetje" (a restaurant) or take a path between some pastures.
Returning to the car after our walk, I was just about to call Nina to me, when she sped off in huge leaps and bounds through some tall grass and bushes.
Nowhere to be seen again.
Used my "here" whistle. Waited a bit, then used it again.
No effect.
Me, the optimist, thought: I'll close the car door loudly and start the engine. When she hears that, she'll come soon enough - after all, she doesn't care much for me leaving her (we're working on that).
Nope.
I put the car in gear, and let it roll in neutral. The idea being that she'd get a good scare when she'd come out and see me much farther away and think twice about pulling such a stunt again.
Well...
Pulled up at the beginning of the street and returned on foot. Didn't even want to contemplate that she'd gotten herself in trouble and couldn't come.
Just on my way, a hare crossed the street right in front of me.
Penny didn't drop yet.
Walked all the way back to our usual parking spot.
No Nina to be seen anywhere.
Doubt set in. Was she really in trouble?
Didn't want to walk through the high grass and bushes to the other side of it, so turned round to take a path a bit closer to where I left the car.
And what do I see in the distance?
Nina. Nose to the ground, deep in the grass, on Glow golf’s side of the street. Then she suddenly flies across to the side of the tennis courts - just like the hare I had seen before - and disappears into the shrubs along the tennis club's fence.
I pick up my pace. Am angry. I have no intention of scolding her — that would only teach her I’m not safe, but she will know I'm not happy.
Some distance before getting to the car, I spot Nina in the shrubs.
Lowering my tone, I call her to me, emphatically.
This time, she does respond.
Stops a meter away from me. Obviously, my voice clearly conveyed my dismay.
Leash her and we stride back to the car.
Meanwhile, the penny drops and my eyes start to glint and sparkle, and I struggle not to laugh out loud. Smiling, then.
She was mischievous, but also working soo incredibly well.
The little imp obviously spotted that hare and took off after it. And she tracked it beautifully. Only took her a couple of seconds to find the exact spot where the hare had crossed the road and even less where it had disappeared into the shrubs.
Little monster. Rascal. But also: maven.
Proud I am.
And slightly worried.
This was the first time ever in her life (she's almost 5) that she took off after wildlife.
The ducks she chases from the water's edge into the water, I don't count.
Hope she doesn't make a habit of it.
My daughter's dog has started running off when they are out walking. My daughter has resorted to getting a tracker so that she can see where the dog is and at least look for her in the right direction. But her dog doesn't have the excuse of practising what she is being trained to do as Nina does. Hope she continues to return to you promptly.