Every morning after I let the dogs out of Widget's House, I stand by with pooper scooper equipment in hand to follow them around while they do their business. (With snow on the ground, if you don't scoop right away, the poop can disappear on you really fast. I'm thinking about writing a book called "Poop Scooping in Northern Climates: Everything You Wanted To Know But Were Afraid To Ask.") Blind Cedar, our beautiful Lab/Husky mix, loves to track me as I make my way around the nearly one-acre yard hunting for soon-to-be buried treasures.
Cedar has started losing his hearing in recent months, and what sounds he can detect often confuse him -- it's like he can't get a directional "fix" on where the sound is coming from -- so he often spins off in a different direction. Consequently he is now using his nose mostly to stay on my trail. Once he finds me, he'll come up to get some loving, then wander off again for a while. Pretty soon he seems to start thinking, "Hmm, where did he go?" and he'll begin sniffing out my trail. (When you wear muddy, manure-covered barn boots, it's really not that hard to pick up the trail!)
I took that photo of Cedar above this morning while I was making my rounds and he was closing in on me. It looks like he's three-legged, but he's not, as you can see from this shot I took a few minutes later from the porch of Widget's House:
That's blind Brody in the background, wondering what's going on at the porch.
Cedar used to hate having his photo taken, and he would always act a little weird -- ears down, like he's spooked -- when he heard the shutter click. Now that he's mostly deaf, he can't hear me take his photo any longer, which is why I was able to get these shots, all with ears up! Here's the last one I took, after I had finished scooping and he decided to sit and meditate for a while:
Handsome boy!
I'm sorry to hear that Cedar is loosing is hearing. Guess you'll have two "spinners" at the ranch.
It is an amazing visual of Spinner and probably Cedar, putting their nose straight up to see what's happening around them.
Cedar is certainly a beautiful boy!
Posted by: boundforglory | April 07, 2009 at 09:17 AM
A blog of Cedar---yippee--he is such a handsome boy!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 06, 2009 at 01:23 AM
I agree that Cedar is absolutely beautiful. It is nice to see him and Brody doing their doggie thing.
Posted by: Billie | April 03, 2009 at 10:38 AM
There could never be too many Yeller dogs to suit me, lol! What lovely photos of the boys on their "rounds"...
Posted by: Debbie | April 03, 2009 at 07:29 AM
He's so beautiful and looks so happy in his snowy home!
Posted by: Michele | April 02, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Hey!!! You are getting too many Yeller dogs - you need more dachshunds! ;)
Follow your nose, it always knows!
Posted by: A Arsenault | April 02, 2009 at 06:16 PM
OMG, he is beautiful & that is a wonderful picture. I just love how animals, human or furry, can make use of whatever senses are most powerful to make it in this world.
I bet your book could be a big seller in that part of the country.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | April 02, 2009 at 06:05 PM
I'm sorry that Cedar is losing his hearing. He's now putting that super-duper nose into action, so he won't miss out on much. I guess they're well insulated against the snow, since they don't seem to mind sitting on it.
Warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | April 02, 2009 at 05:40 PM
How nice to see Cedar (and Brody). All your dogs always look so healthy. Their coats are so shiny and smooth as if you brush them every day.
I was wondering......are the dogs in Widget's House confined to their crates when inside?
Posted by: Lynn | April 02, 2009 at 05:24 PM