Can you tolerate another column about our new addition, Meggie, the Australian shepherd puppy?
Right now our schedules seem to revolve around hers, so just as proud parents of human babies keep records of their infant’s firsts, we’ve unintentionally begun doing the same thing with Meggie.
We’re trying to provide Meggie with a variety of experiences to help prepare her for the life we envision for her around our farm. Some things are the same for human babies, while others are quite different.
For instance, we won’t be taking any photos of Meggie’s first tooth, as she came equipped with a full set of sharp baby teeth — and she sure knows how to use them. Like human moms and dads, we closely monitor what she’s chewing on, with particular emphasis on discouraging Meggie’s chomping on furniture, cabinetry, fabric and us.
Seeing the world through a puppy’s eyes provides a whole new perspective on ordinary, everyday experiences. Meggie loves to go for walks around our farm and, while she no doubt longs to run free — and will do so eventually — we currently keep her on a retractable leash to provide some freedom to roam, but under our control.
At first Meggie was afraid of almost everything, but that soon faded away as her curiosity began getting the best of her. The sight of our cats, Zane and Tuxie, curled up on the kitchen porch love seat intimidated her initially, but then she grew bigger than them and began cautiously sniffing at them.
Both these tame barn cats had gotten along fine with our previous dogs, Lizzie and Tillie, but being poked by this playful pup’s nose did not amuse them.
They looked at me as if to say, “Why did you need to get another dog?” Then they jumped up and ran away.
Fortunately, with each successive encounter, the cats became less fearful and our puppy became more respectful of them.
On one of our earliest walks, Meggie discovered deer poop in our garden and couldn’t resist tasting a sample. Unfortunately, she found it pleasing to her palate, so we now try to avoid this “snack” on our farmstead walks.
Meggie’s first glimpse of our two sheep and two goats caused her fear. They didn’t like the looks of her either, but that changed as something in Meggie’s DNA started to attract her to these animals.
Eventually, the flock members came closer to their fence, and Meggie did the same thing outside the fence. The timid sheep decided to ignore her. However, Bianca and Remy, the goats, took a more proactive stance.
When Meggie put her nose against the wire fence, the goats took turns charging toward her, trying to head butt her with their horns. Meggie retreated at first, but then started to view this as a fun game.
It seemed some herding instinct took over and she started taunting the goats by lying flat on her stomach, seemingly passive, until she would take a quick lunge toward the goats, who would retreat and then return.
Meggie soon added shrill barking to her lunging; it was obvious she yearned to nip at the goats’ heels and begin herding them. Meggie now pulls on her leash to steer Dennis and me toward the sheep and goat pasture on every walk.
One day I accidentally dropped an ice cube on the kitchen floor. Meggie scurried over and stared at the ice cube uncertainly.
Inevitably, she picked it up with her mouth, then began pushing it around the floor and chomping on it. Ice cubes remain one of Meggie’s favorite toys. It handily addresses the need to entertain herself and her insatiable desire for water.
Meggie’s very observant. I was surprised to see her glancing skyward one evening as a small flock of Canada geese flew overhead honking loudly. Her face showed a mixture of puzzlement and wonder.
A few days later a bunch of small birds flew out of a backyard bush and, once again, Meggie watched carefully as they flew off into the wild blue yonder.
One morning, just as snow flurries were beginning to fly, Meggie noticed these white flakes gently drifting down from above and gazed straight upward. The expression on her face can only be described as awe.
That awe didn’t last long when the snow accumulated on the grass and Meggie began snowplowing through it with her snout. I saw her grab something with her mouth and quickly went to extract it.
It was a dead mouse, which I reluctantly dangled from two of my unfortunately ungloved fingers. Yuck!
Not all of Meggie’s experiences have been unscripted. Tillie and Lizzie loved riding along to the feed mill with Dennis. I recently accompanied him to the mill with Meggie in my lap.
She was resistant to entering our truck — probably because her only previous truck trip had been to receive vaccinations.
Although tense initially, Meggie soon became mesmerized by the passing landscape and started enjoying herself. We then introduced her to the barn’s second floor while we unloaded feed.
Several days later, I tugged a reluctant Meggie into the barn’s lower level. Things went well until we rounded a corner of the cattle’s feeding entry.
There stood Cletus, our grumpy orange tiger cat — and there ended our tour, as Meggie made a speedy about face and exited.
Just wait, Meggie — there’s more fun ahead.
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