The dobercow

Lately, since the ticks are gone after the frost, Kyle and I have made a point of taking Lexx for a 40 minute ish off leash run on the paths behind our house. He thoroughly enjoys this time, and we always take him immediately in the morning, post yawn, pre breakfast.

hes required to stay on leash as we pass through our neighbours back yard until we pass through the tree line and hit the path where he knows that he has to sit politely, and shaking in anticipation of freedom, wait until i say OK after unclipping the leash.

The immediate response is a BURST of doberzoomies, "woww i'm free, i've never been free ever beforeee" ( this from the dog with the massive fenced back yard) but the paths are truly his favourite place.

The walk includes a lot of pee-mail leaving, zoomie laps around mom/dad and running ahead, stopping and glancing back with an undeniable look that says " geez could you walk a little faster guys? there is cool stuff up there!" even though we never limit his range, he has a self limiter on his "distance from mommy" radar.

This ensues for the entire way out to our turning point ( about a mile).

The way back is a frantic, nose to the ground, follow my own/my mom/my dad's path. tracking adn snuffling and bouncing in joy we turn towards home...

then at some point.. the dobercow emerges and he starts eating grass from everywhere.. zoom, eat some grass, tear it out and shake it like prey then GULP, down it goes. bounce, eat more... etc etc for at least the last ten minutes of the walk.

This wouldn't bother me so much, but lexx has a terribly sensitive stomach, and this always leads to mom having to clean up dog puke from her once light green but now light blueish gross carpet. or, diarreah full of grass.

WHY? why does he INSIST on eating it every day? WHY? i KNOW that scallops make me sick, so i don't eat them! Its really simple... I just don't understand.

Having been the owner of an intact male doberman teen for the past few months, one thing i feel i've learned is to pick my battles. In the beginning, the dobercow battle was worth it to me... but as it turns out.. I don't think I'll ever win.