Harry Meets A Country Neighbor

Harry is turning out to be one of the best dogs we have ever had and he is having to fill some big shoes left by our dog Speckles, that we had for 14 years. Specks was the ultimate farm dog.

We have had a difficult time finding a dog. After Speckles there was Fergus who was such a great dog, until he went crazy and went on a killing spree and then attacked Melanie. The vet explained to us that this sometimes happens with Border Collies, especially very inbred dogs. They just go crazy. Think in the movie Babe they showed a dog that was like that. Then the puppy we adopted from the pound only to find he had distemper and had to be put down. Then there was Pepper, so cute, but loved to eat chickens so she went to a good home that has no chickens. Needless to say I was feeling like we would never find a dog.....then came Harry. And what a great dog he is.

I am thinking Harry was a pampered city dog though. He sleeps on any rug in the house, loves to be petted, but he is still one of the best behaved dogs around. No jumping, no random barking. Stops when you stop and then sits when you have him on a lead. He sits on command.

He is wonderful. Just looks at the chickens and doesn't bother to chase them. This is the dog of all dogs for us. However, last night, this city boy, when he was out to do his business, thought we had a black cat with a white stripe down its back and wanted to chase it. It wasn't a cat...and it sprayed him, not full on thankfully, but enough that Harry had to sleep outside last night in his house, which is all comfy for him. He came in the house for a bit this morning, well long enough for me to decide he still had the perfume of the skunk on him and then he had to go back outside again. I was planning on taking him to the vets today, but honestly, I don't want him in the car just yet and I am guessing the vets office may not like his new perfume either.

Harry looks a bit sad being outside so I gave him a big new rawhide bone, which seemed to make him happy. Lets hope Harry learned that skunks are critters that you don't play with ! Its too cold to give him a bath today. I am hoping since it was more of a near miss than a direct hit, it might just wear off today, so Harry can sleep by the stove tonight and snore the night through.