My dog can count

I'll update this blog more often when there's more to say. I'm sure you're sick of hearing about my dogs by now, but tough, because if you read the rest of this post, you'll be reading about them again.

Several weeks ago, I started taking my dogs out to run around the block, which is roughly a quarter mile around. I can't keep up with them when they run, especially not Akela, so I put on roller blades or ride my bicycle. Normally I prefer the roller blades because Akela has pulled me over on the bicycle twice (although neither of us got hurt either time).

Jack doesn't like roller blades, so when he was here, he would often ride his bike with Blitzkrieg while I had Akela pull me on the roller blades. This worked well, because we were able to switch off dogs as necessary. Neither of the dogs bother stopping to poop while running anymore, and a few times, it has been necessary for Jack to pass me both dogs so he could stop and scoop the poop (it's easier to stop a bike than to try and scoop poop on roller blades).

But Jack's been on a business trip for the last week and a half. Taking both dogs running at the same time doesn't work too terribly well on the bicycle, and if I use the roller blades, I have to try and scoop poop--usually about eight little poop balls spaced ten feet apart all the way down the street--while holding two dogs AND roller blading. I've done it, but it isn't easy. Especially if the poop happens to be in front of one of the houses with yippy dogs. (Oh, how I'm growing to loathe those annoying little squeaky nuisances!)

So I've worked out a routine. I take both dogs outside on the leash, then I tie Blitzkrieg up in the yard and let Akela run three laps around the block. She usually starts off so fast I can barely keep up with her, but by the third lap, she's gotten out most of her explosive energy, and I have to coax her to keep running. So after the third lap, I tie her up so she can have a rest, and I run Blitzkrieg for two laps. He goes much slower, and he has this habit of holding the leash in his teeth as he runs. I know he could go faster than he does if he wants to, but that's beside the point. Anyway, I usually continue to switch off the dogs--Akela for three laps, then Blitzy for two--until they seem to be getting tired out.

Well, today, when we got to Akela's third lap, she seemed to be doing well. She was still running strong and looked like she wasn't ready for her break yet. So I decided to take her for a fourth lap before taking Blitzkrieg. Blitzy, who had been sitting by the truck, calmly waiting his turn, saw us coming, then watched us pass him to go on a fourth lap. Just after we passed, I heard him let out a confused, high-pitched yip, which he's never done before. At least, not when I passed him while we were biking.

I swear, my dog can count, and he was able to tell that I was taking Akela for an extra lap. Apparently, he thought that was unfair. That or he thought I had forgotten about him.

Weird dog.