Search for a Christmas Tree

[RedHotDobe]

We went to get a Christmas tree on Sunday, and although I knew it would be an inconvenience, Duke came along anyway.

I get in the car, he hops in, I put his seatbelt on, and we're off. All the way in the car, he has to tell me all about how he hates car rides. Rawrararararaaaaww... silence... Uuuuhhrarararuuruuruuuraawww... Not to mention, his stories come with stinky dog breath.
We finally get there after what seems like an eternity of driving. I take off his seatbelt, hook his collar to his new Old navy leash (not exactly high-quality, but it was cute), and we get out of the car. We start walking, I see mud, Duke sees mud, Duke charges into mud, I am also forced to charge into the mud. I look at my not-so-old pink Nike Shox, they are now brown, not-very-new Nike Shox. We continue, I see a dog, Duke sees the dog, the enemy dog, he must intimidate. Deep, scary Doberman barks...deep growlies...yodely whines (with interjected lunges). All the while he's making a fool of himself, I move him along, trying to create some distance between him and the enemy (who never flinched during all of the 'fierce intimidation battle'). We move away from the dog, the battle ceases, we carry on in the search for a tree. As we move along, there are people, people Duke MUST meet. I hold him close, because there aren't too many people who want to pet the dog that looked like he just tried to kill another dog. (Their loss I say)

The search continues, but Duke thinks he's really gotta pee. I direct him away from all of the Christmas trees, and suddenly he's cured of the bursting bladder. The perfect tree is finally found, and it only took about an hour (<-sarcasm). We start to head back down, but apparently the tree is too heavy to pull down the hill (?) Duke and I head down alone to wait while everyone stays with the tree to wait for the tractor.

We get to the bottom of the hill, and some people are approaching. I notice a guy staring at Duke, and Duke also takes notice and assumes the 'stiff as a board' position. The man keeps staring, I look up, he says "I was just trying to figure out how we could cook him." Apparently Duke now speaks English, because he likes this man's jokes. He moves closer for some pets, and the rest of their family come to pet him. He likes this, anyone who pets him is his bestest friend in the whole widest world. A nice lady compliments him on how calm and gentle he is, he like this and moves closer to her for head scratches. But alas, these new friends must continue on in their search for a tree. A man that was watching asks "What kind of dog is that?" I reply "He's a Doberman." He walks off, Duke thinks he must be surprised that Dobes aren't man eaters.

Tons of dogs are passing by now, so what do I do to keep his attention off of them? Pretend I have food of course! I ball my hand up and as soon as he sees it he sits. He sits for awhile staring at me intensly, waiting for me to give him the food.

The tree finally makes its journey on the tractor down the hill. This means we must move to the paying area, an area where there's a greater chance of seeing dogs. We stand next to a big sign, a little bit away from the main area. A dog is approaching, I try to move Duke a little farther away, Duke is calmly watching the dog, until the dog barks at him. He feels he must retaliate, no dog makes the first move in his battles. Deep Doberman barks...flailing red thing on the end of the leash...growly barks... yodely whines. He chills, and as the dog and owner walk away, she calls "You have a very pretty dog, I just have a very noisy one." I want to scream "Thank You." Everyone one was staring the whole time, not at the little white American Eskimo Dog, but at the big bad Doberman Pinscher. She tried to take the blame off of Duke, and I am forever grateful.

We walk closer to the car, and stop to buy a hot dog. Now he nows I do actually have food, and he again assumes the intense stare posture. Only the reward is not coming fast enough, so he jumps up in my face to make me aware that he's still alive and sitting patiently on the end of the leash. I toss him a piece of bread and he flies in the air to catch it. The dog is passing again, barking, but he pays no mind because he's getting food.

We get to the car, a little boy and mother are sitting on the bumper of the adjacent car.The little boy points. Duke walks over and thoroughly smells the little boys face (he doesn't lick). After a face inspection, he moves onto the hands, yes, the hands, there is hot dog nearby. He backs away, the little boy barks to him, He comes over again to give him a face inspection, the little boy laughs. Duke stands close to the little boy, enjoying his new friend, just as much as the boy is enjoying him. (It was really cute, the boy kept reaching out for Duke and he -the boy- kept barking at him.)

[sheltiepups]

aww it sounds like you had fun, even though the jerks don't understand dogs. but Duck sounds so cute!

[gaddylovesdogs]

LOL! Duke sounds like a very interesting pup .

[sthrnbelle]

Great story! I could picture everything he did in my head, thanks for sharing and making me smile.

[RedHotDobe]

Thanks everyone!
And Duke says thanks too for reading a little tidbit from a day in his life.

And yes gaddy, he's interesting to say the least.

[gaddylovesdogs]

Originally Posted by RedHotDobe

Thanks everyone!
And Duke says thanks too for reading a little tidbit from a day in his life.

And yes gaddy, he's interesting to say the least.

He sounds very cute. I now think it's sort of funny people think Dobies are vicious....I have never met one in person (everyone around here either has a yellow lab or black lab or a "pekeapoo" ), but from all the stories I've heard they sound like jokers.

[RedHotDobe]

He is definitely a joker. Yesterday I threw a tennis ball to get him to take his fartin', stinkin' butt elsewhere, and he trotted back in with it hanging out the side of his mouth. Then he layed his head on the arm of the chair with the ball still hanging there, and fell asleep. He's such a goober head. Or like this morning where he almost knocked the Christmas tree down. I banished him from that room, but it sure is funny now to picture him under the tree, butt flailing in the air, and the tree practically tipping over.

[rottie_lvr]

hey ya, wow, cute story thanks 4 sharing