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Archive for the 'a puppy's adventures' Category
When a “code red” or “catastrophic” fire warning was recently issued to parts of Victoria, I knew Lila and I would be heading to the haven of a city office. The temperature was tipped to hit 43°C and drop only slightly at sunset, resulting in Melbourne’s hottest night on record. By the time I’d packed our things (and please do not underestimate how many toys, treats and other comforts a pampered pup requires!), I wanted to weep. There’s something profoundly disturbing about not feeling safe in your home. Disturbing and disorienting.
We made our escape with the car’s air conditioner going full blast. Despite her ongoing difficulties with motion sickness, Lila put on a brave face and kept her breakfast down for the duration of the trip. She’d never been to the city before but, when we arrived, she handled all the traffic and noise with equanimity. The footpaths scorched her paws and shade was hard to come by. The tap water tasted funny, but it was too hot not to drink. And we couldn’t throw a ball in the office. She never complained.
We eventually found ourselves going for a walk in a filthy park. Negotiating broken beer bottles with the wind driving hot heavy air into our eyes and mouths. I pleaded with Lila to please do whatever was required before one or both of us keeled over from heat stroke or something. Perhaps she was dehydrated because it took her forever. Afterwards, we slogged to an outdoor café for refreshments. With Lila doing a little window-shopping along the way.
Thankfully, no big fires had broken out during the day so we slept in our beds that night. Exhausted from our wanderings. And feeling more certain than ever that there’s no place like home.
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Naturally, Lila had never before encountered ferrets and when she caught her first whiff of Rodger and Dodger (arriving in a box), she was pretty excited. Much more so than she’d ever been about rabbits. I feared for the ferrets’ lives and tied Lila to a fence post where she could watch them from a safe distance. Quietly. So as not to distract them from their work.
The ferreter and his young daughter laid nets across the entries and exits of a rabbit warren and then encouraged the two sleek, curious creatures (neutered in case one or both should go missing and create a different sort of ecological problem!) with a soft excited sh-sh-sh to tunnel through and flush out any occupants. Lila strained at her lead, but understood that barking was forbidden.
After exploring every passageway, disappearing at one end and then popping up at the other as if to say “Nothing here!”, Rodger and Dodger led us to believe that the rabbits were not in residence. It was evening so maybe they were otherwise engaged. Wreaking havoc on the environment elsewhere. Wherever they were, it was a disappointment. And Lila would now have to wait till another occasion to witness the ways of the world.
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17
Dec
09
lila’s first holiday
The most exciting aspect of this adventure was seeing the world through Lila’s eyes. Glimpsing for the first time the surf and learning its rhythms. Poking her chocolate nose into mysterious rock pools and prancing along the beach with seaweed streamers held aloft. Alert to the snores and belches of koalas perched in the treetops. Digging holes deep in the sand just for the hell of it. Tantalised by flashy king parrots and sulphur-crested cockatoos, staring back at her with heads cocked. And at long last sleeping in the same room with us (jumping onto our bed at the crack of dawn!). If ever a pup knew how to have fun, it was Lila. Her enthusiasm bubbled over.
Of course, holidays can never be perfect. One afternoon, while walking on a bush track, the sun came out. And so did the flies. Not nice ones, either. The biting kind. When she’d snap at one, there’d be two others. And on the beach, there came an unexpected wave big enough to require body surfing. With knitted brow, Lila let it carry her safely back to shore. Occasionally, while exploring she’d encounter ugly signs with a red slash across a black dog. Unwelcoming. And we mustn’t forget the winding roads that made her tummy ache. She coped pretty well though. And felt it was all worth the trip.
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06
Dec
09
like a duck to water
The other morning the sun was shining brightly, Lila’s best friend Ochie (and owner Kiersten) had come to visit and there wasn’t a kangaroo in sight (please see the “lila the labrador encounters a kangaroo” post to grasp the full meaning of this). The timing seemed perfect to take the two dogs for a swim in our dam.
Ochie, although somewhat older than Lila, hadn’t had much opportunity to swim. And Lila none at all. Nevertheless, once in the paddock, they both headed straight into the water. Although Lila immediately put her webbed toes to good use and went for a confident paddle, she was puzzled by the water not being solid and slapped at it with her paws. In the video, Kiersten speaks on behalf of Lila: “I should be able to walk on it!”
A moment later, after a ball was pitched into the dam, something unexpected occurred. Lila launched herself at it from the embankment, hit the water with a whopping belly flop and sank like a stone. Ochie couldn’t believe his eyes and rushed to her rescue. Lila soon resurfaced, however, unfazed. Well, almost. She’d forgotten the ball.
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I wouldn’t say that I’m a particularly downbeat person, but I do find myself sometimes greeting the day with a touch of trepidation. Worrying needlessly that I won’t be able to get through my long list of whatever. Our Labrador Lila, however, awakens each morning with a sense of adventure. Bursting with anticipation of all the amazing things the day might bring! I think to myself: THAT is the way to live.
Although our house is made of mud brick, it features more than the usual amount of floor-to-ceiling glass. This means that when Lila’s wandering around the property, she can see in and I can see out. Even when I’m sitting at the computer and she’s outside surveying her kingdom, we can keep tabs on each other. Sometimes, however, she forgets I’m watching…
This week’s video clip features Lila caught unawares from my study. I spotted her in the garden “harvesting” the flower heads from a 10-foot-high Banksia shrub. She was so intent upon the task at hand that she failed to see me standing at the window with a camera. I didn’t know Labradors could climb like that, but a few awkward moments notwithstanding Lila managed to scale new heights.
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