Just outside our neighborhood is a field in between a church and an elementary school. The lawn is well kept, but it's rarely used, so Nugget and I take frequent field trips there. I let Nugget off his leash at one corner and he sprints to the other corner looking for birds. Occasionally, there will be a crow or two for him to chase off. Above everything else in the world, Nugget loves chasing birds. The only thing that can sometimes break him off a bird chase is a stern voice and the promise of a hot dog. So imagine his excitement when we went to the field today and there were three (three!) crows and a handful of small birds all sitting around gossiping.
I took off his leash, watched him sit there twitching for a moment (because it's hilarious), and finally gave him the verbal "okay!" to which he exploded like a cannon. He raced as fast as his little pencil legs could carry him in the hopes of finally catching his very own crow. But alas, it was not to be. The good news, however, is that he succeeded in once again ridding his beloved field of the scourge that is birds.
After Nugget chased the birds off, he started frolicking around the field, inspecting the areas where the birds had been to check for any loose change that might have fallen out of their pockets during the hasty escape. And that's when I noticed the swallow. It was a very cute black swallow and, as swallows are wont to do, he was flying low to the ground. Unlike the other birds, he had decided not to flee the scene. But here's the best part: he was following Nugget around. No matter where Nugget went or in what direction he turned, the swallow stayed close behind. I was surprised because the swallow's flight was cool and easy, not at all like he was agitated and trying to attack Nugget.
I kept trying to show Nugget the swallow, but it was tough because the bird was so good at keeping to Nugget's rear end. When Nugget finally saw it, though, he kicked into high gear again and sprinted his little heart out trying to get to it. He was especially excited because the swallow was flying at exactly his height off the ground. So there they went, little Nugget and the little swallow, chasing each other around the park. At several points, they would get stuck in a circle, going round and round and round trying to catch one another.
Nugget has the heart of a champion but only the lungs of a very small dog, so after several minutes of running/flying together, Nugget collapsed to the ground and seriously contemplated throwing up. The little swallow friend must have felt for him because once he realized that Nugget just couldn't keep up anymore, he excercised good sportsmandship and politely left the park altogether. Nugget had to rest for a good long time before he was ready to make the trek back home.
When we got home, Nugget got a nice big drink of water. And then he asked if we could go play with the swallow again tomorrow.
I took off his leash, watched him sit there twitching for a moment (because it's hilarious), and finally gave him the verbal "okay!" to which he exploded like a cannon. He raced as fast as his little pencil legs could carry him in the hopes of finally catching his very own crow. But alas, it was not to be. The good news, however, is that he succeeded in once again ridding his beloved field of the scourge that is birds.
After Nugget chased the birds off, he started frolicking around the field, inspecting the areas where the birds had been to check for any loose change that might have fallen out of their pockets during the hasty escape. And that's when I noticed the swallow. It was a very cute black swallow and, as swallows are wont to do, he was flying low to the ground. Unlike the other birds, he had decided not to flee the scene. But here's the best part: he was following Nugget around. No matter where Nugget went or in what direction he turned, the swallow stayed close behind. I was surprised because the swallow's flight was cool and easy, not at all like he was agitated and trying to attack Nugget.
I kept trying to show Nugget the swallow, but it was tough because the bird was so good at keeping to Nugget's rear end. When Nugget finally saw it, though, he kicked into high gear again and sprinted his little heart out trying to get to it. He was especially excited because the swallow was flying at exactly his height off the ground. So there they went, little Nugget and the little swallow, chasing each other around the park. At several points, they would get stuck in a circle, going round and round and round trying to catch one another.
Nugget has the heart of a champion but only the lungs of a very small dog, so after several minutes of running/flying together, Nugget collapsed to the ground and seriously contemplated throwing up. The little swallow friend must have felt for him because once he realized that Nugget just couldn't keep up anymore, he excercised good sportsmandship and politely left the park altogether. Nugget had to rest for a good long time before he was ready to make the trek back home.
When we got home, Nugget got a nice big drink of water. And then he asked if we could go play with the swallow again tomorrow.