How long is a dog's memory? Do they remember things year after year or is every morning a clean slate? Sometimes I swear it is the latter, as every morning when I get out of bed, my two greet me like I just returned from a six month trip to Siberia. They enthusiastically jump around, yowling and barking, tails furiously flapping, as if to say "oh thank GOD you woke up!!!!" At first it was kind of endearing, now it's just downright annoying, as I am the poster girl for not-a-morning-person. But there are other times when I wish they would remember an experience from last year (heck, I'd even go for last week) if it ended on a good note. I thought of this as I packed up the SUV with water, biscuits, bowls and poo bags and prepared to head west to the coast. Yes, it's time once again for the Bernese Mountain Dog Rally at Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay.
Now, it would be really great if my two remembered the time we attended this rally last year, not because they had such a banner time, but because they actually SURVIVED it. You may recall, my two have a bit of a socialization issue with other dogs. Namely, they hate other dogs. I figured, "Hey, maybe they won't hate other dogs that look like them!" They did. But they managed to hold it together so I thought perhaps they would do much better this year, being older and more secure, right?
Yeah...not so much.
Bernese are by breed a happy sort of dog, almost "dufus" in nature. When we pulled into parking area where the dogs were all running around playing and having a grand old time, we were met immediately by a large fluffy Bernese the size of a Volkswagen Beetle who proceeded to stuff his snout into the open doorway of the SUV to say hello and see if we perhaps had any food. Needless to say, Leila took great offense at having her personal space invaded and went into a frenzy, content in the knowledge she was currently shielded by the truck seat and two children. As soon as they moved, all bets were off. We did manage to shoo away the VW and after much coaxing and biscuit-waving, get Leila out of the truck. While other Berners ran and frolicked, my two immediately dove behind the hay bales. Oh yes, this was going to be a fun trip!!!
Figuring out that Berners are tall enough to actually SEE them over the hay bales, Bodie soon grew tired of hiding and decided to venture out and do a reconnaissance fly-by into enemy territory in the hopes he wouldn't get eaten. He did not. Meanwhile, Leila managed to find a bunker behind my husband and happily tried to blend in with the sunflowers. She did not either. I finally managed to draw her out from behind the hay bales where she happily sat in the corner of a 90 degree angle of hay and got head pats and attention from humans. All was well until another happy Berner came over to join in the love fest and Leila realized the error in her plan: she was now cornered. Forget that the other dog could care less that she was there, she suddenly snapped at it with all the viciousness she could muster, which was r
ather inadequate at best. A nearby poodle eyed her as if to say "Seriously? That's all ya got?" But still, I was horrified that in this midst of happy-go-lucky wandering dogs, mine had turned into the Hound of the Baskerville. Bodie came over to offer moral support, unsure of exactly what his action item was. I finally gave up and went to make a fuss over other dogs, embarrassed by their behavior.
While the "other dogs" merrily romped, climbed on tables, drank at the community water bucket and posed for a group photo, my two wanted nothing to do with them. Bodie occasionally took an interest from afar at a passing pup, even extending his nose to get a whiff of the passerby, but as soon as he was acknowledged, he would bob and weave like a football running back to escape an introduction. Leila would follow me as I walked the field, nervously glancing left, right and behind her as if preparing for an oncoming zombie attack. When I made my way back to the SUV and opened the hatch, she defied gravity by levitating into the back with lightening speed, her jumping position only viewable with a slow-motion camera. As much as her stand-offishness pissed me off, I loved the gaggle of happy bouncing black and white, the zaniness of the controlled chaos that was the pumpkin patch at that time, and the incredibly friendly and personable dog owners that were having a great time letting their Berners frolic.
Time to start preparing for next year!! I'm sure my two will be much better by then!! (insert eye roll here!)
Stay tuned......
Many thanks to John and Eda Muller of
Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch for hosting this wonderful event.
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