interesting night

[Mistress Trista]

I posted this on my blog too, because after things settled down, I thought it was kind of funny...LOL

I couldn't sleep last night. Drank too much coffee, I guess, or had too much on my mind. Whatever the reason, I was awake at one in the morning when the commotion began.

My dog, or rather my son's dog, a red golden retriever who goes by the name of Sam, never barks. I make jokes about if we were ever robbed, the robber would either trip over the dog's sleeping body or get licked to death because the big baby is addicted to attention. But last night, I saw a side of my dog I never expected. Fierce protector.

I also saw a side of my 14 year old son that surprised me. Braveheart...LOL.

We live on five acres, basically in the middle of BFE. We have a doggie door and Sam has free run of the land, going in and out the door as he pleases. He stays close, so I've never really worried. Last night, it started with barking in the distance. The neighbors dogs maybe, which are about three acres away behind us. A few minutes later they were closer, so I stopped typing on my laptop and listened.

What had them so freaked out?

Than another bark, much closer. I looked around and realized Sam was not in his usual spot. My 14 year old came out of his room and into mine as I was putting on my robe to go see what all the commotion was about, because again, Sam never barks.

"You heard it too?" he asked.

I nodded and we both headed to the kitchen. I turned on the outside lights and was looking out the kitchen window. My son, on the other hand, was grabbing a fireplace pocker from the fireplace hearth in the living room and heading out the back door.

"Whoa, where are you going?" I asked.

"To get my dog."

I went running out after him, since I still didn't know who or what was out there. We have no street lights, so I couldn't see a damn thing. But here was my 14 year old kid, granted a 6'1, 182 pound muscle boy, but still just a boy, running outside to protect his dog.

After a couple of seconds of standing on the deck and looking around the yard, the direction where the barks and growls were coming from, we find him. The dog is in the back yard, fiercely standing his ground against 3 stray dogs, all bigger than him. The change from docile full grown, retriever puppy at heart, to growling dom ready to protect what's his, was quite a sight.

My son and I yelled, scaring off the strays and Sam came back in the house, where I reworded him with a treat. Of course, the adrenaline now has him all excited and it took a while for us to get him calmed down. It took a while for me to calm down too. Nothing like the fear of a prowler to get your blood flowing.

I'm now awake, after about only four hours of sleep. No sign of the strays, but I'm sure they'll come back. I just have to figure out what to do about them when they do... Unfortunately, we have no animal control out here. We're too far in the boonies.

Any ideas anyone?

[BAC]

That is kind of scary!

Back in Michigan we lived on 5 acres too, kind of in between suburbia and the country and our backyard was all woods. Just in the last 10 years or so, there have been coyotes in the town. Now, coyotes will hunt all small animals, including cats and even smaller dogs. There have been a lot of reports of people's pets disappearing in the town and I remember waking up in the middle of the night hearing them howling in the woods. Kind of creepy. I had a dog there and never let him out when it was dark because of this.

Stray dogs can be harmless, unless your dog feels like joining their pack and running away. Maybe keep him in at night until they've moved on?

[pilotwife3]

Wow....if you live on 5 acres do you know any of your neighbours? I'm assuming your dog/puppy is up to date on shots but what about the strays...not per say for your own dog but what about yourself and your son if you get bitten. Not sure about by-laws when you live out in boonie ville but surely there must be some recourse. Have you contacted your township to see what you can do if you can even find out where the dogs live.

Kuddos to your brave man child. My youngest is 17, built like a toothpick but with a heart of fire....does a mamma proud.

P.S. Some of our best work comes from lack of sleep...too much coffee... and a good ole' adrenaline rush...

[Mistress Trista]

Sam is up to date on his shots. I make sure of that living in the country like we do. I dont' know about the other dog. I did check with the police department. If we feel threatened, we can shoot them. Okay...so what's your idea of threatened? Just the fact that they're there, has me feeling threatened. His response? Use my best judgement.

The whole incident reminded me of my oldest son when he was 13. At the time, he was toothpick thin, still is...LOL. at his 6'4 height just makes it more pronounced... But anyway, i apparently had a bad dream and screamed. He woke me up throwing my bedroom door open so hard it hit the wall. Scared the crap out of me. He flipped on the light switch and quickly looked around the room, a skateboard in his hand drawn back like a baseball bat.

What are you doing? I asked.

You screamed, he said, staring at me like I was a lunatic. Why?

I didn't scream. Did I?

He just rolled his eyes and left the room. I couldn't help it. I laughed....LOL. I still laugh every time I think about it...LOL

[ccbegay]

oh wow, that is a great story...good boy(s)...be safe...