Jackson, Day 7: Everything Comes Down to Poo
Another drizzly morning walk. Well, not so much drizzly as it was misty and foggy. I couldn’t even see past the fence line, though I could hear farm equipment in the cornfield. Jackson, who seemed none the worse for wear after his medical ordeal, was unnerved by the noise but still managed to squat and pee outside. Progress in housebreaking…I take what I can get!
I think I finally figured out Jackson’s “tell” — that behavior which says, I need to go NOW! It’s the standard running back and forth with nose to the ground. The problem was, he usually carries a toy while doing it, so I can’t really discern if it’s his signal or he’s just playing. I have to rely on timers and instinct. I really don’t want to leave him crated for extended periods of time, the noise will surely drive us all insane.
It’s so funny when I walk him with the big dogs — he watches Brother lift his leg as if it’s The. Coolest. Thing. Ever. From the look in his eyes, I think he believes he will be Brother when he grows up. Something will happen, some fairy will wave her wand and he will be transformed from a 9 pound bichon to this long-legged critter.
Hero worship notwithstanding, we continued our walk. The grass was high and dewy, and Jackson was starting to frizz from walking through it. I zoned out, letting him do his thing, and let my nose tell me when he was done. Ding! I thought he was, but he hadn’t…but that smell…where was it coming from?
It was coming from a tractor going down the road, hauling a long flat trailer loaded with manure. Of course…the day the cornfield gets fertilized. No opening the windows today. Between that, and trying to housebreak Jackson, I feel I’m surrounded by poo.
But I am a Foster and a DogMom. I read poop like an oracle. And often while doing it, this song runs through my mind…