feeling jaunty

When I got home tonight it was dinnertime, and Otto was about to settle down with a peanut butter sandwich. He decided he wanted to eat sitting in his stroller in the garage, though -- odd, but Jon was going with it. I went out to help get him settled in the seat while Jon put the cup in the cup holder and his sandwich on the tray.

While we were there, trying to figure out whether Otto actually wanted us to walk or just wanted to eat outside, Jake strolled through the open door from the kitchen into the garage.

This is something he just doesn't do. He doesn't like that door much, and knows that unless there's a leash involved it's probably not worth the trouble to walk past the spooky broom closet (brooms can fall out and attack, you know).

So I have my hands around Otto, lowering him into the seat, and Jon's just straightened up from putting the cup etc. down, and I spot Jake, casually wandering through the garage and onto the driveway.

And then he trotted across the street.

Calling him back does no good. He's never ever minded us when it comes to recall -- it's not in his nature. But he took his time sniffing the grass on the other side of the street until Jon and I could grab leashes and go after him.

We proceeded to take a very brisk walk, Jon keeping up with Jake, me pushing Otto in the stroller down the opposite sidewalk, Otto eating his sandwich. Jake kept Jon in sight, often stopping to sniff a convenient shrub if he ran too far ahead. When we got to the corner where we usually turn left towards the park, he and Jon went thataway, and I went straight. He was following our normal walk route and behaving quite nicely, leashless though he was. I figured I'd try to head him off at the pass -- take a shorter version of our route and catch him as he headed home.

I got to the corner and called to check on Jon, who by then was just a block north of us. I figured I'd try to tempt Jake with a corner of Otto's sandwich, if needed. Thankfully, Jake stopped for a second too long at a tree, and Jon snapped the leash on before he could take off again. Because Otto wasn't about to share his sandwich.

And then we all headed home. Otto ate the rest of his dinner, Jon and I got our exercise, and Jake? Well, he got to go for a walk.

The end.

Comments

[Jenica]

I love that dog. Smartest animal I think I've ever met. Sometimes, apparently, to your detriment!

[Ane]

I'm sorry but that is just funny.