Alayne got these shots Saturday evening right after we had finished with the afternoon chores. That's blind Allie the Lab in the middle of a wrestling match with blind Austin the Beagle. They had already gone at least one round by the time Alayne saw them and got the camera; there was a momentary pause and then this round began.
The interesting thing, Alayne pointed out when she showed me these photos, is that Allie is not really very social. She's perfectly happy to play with a kong by herself, throwing it around and then hunting it down, or doing the same with a tennis ball. She doesn't usually hang out with the other animals, and isn't that playful. Allie has on occasion roughhoused with other animals, but generally she's kind of a solo girl and seems to prefer it that way. Yet Austin has this amazing ability to get just about every dog we have to play with him -- and he seems to like taking on bigger dogs especially. Yesterday's session with Allie was more proof of it. And there's nothing we like more than to see two (or more!) of our disabled animals play with each other.
So here's the ensuing sequence of action shots:
Here I think Allie may be thinking about whether to grab the little punk by the neck and pin him to the ground:
But then, inexplicably, courtesy enters the scene and they bow to each other:
Followed immediately by the double-paw sock-'em to the muzzle:
When you're really small, especially compared to your opponent, it's best to try and stand as tall as you can:
But, as often happens in the blind vs. blind battles, they lose sight of each other (so to speak) and things momentarily break off:
Allie's now thinking, "Uh oh, where'd he go?":
Before the munchkin suddenly seems to come out of nowhere and lands at her feet again:
And then it's true paw-to-paw combat:
Before Austin tries one more of his left-hooks just as the bell rings:
And that was the Lab vs. Beagle match for Saturday, October 9th.
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Still 2nd place as of Sunday!
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that is awesome! and inspiring. We're fostering our first blind dog right now... he's a senior dog and my other three dogs are all younger and try relentlessly to get him to play. He never does. I think he's arthritic too.
Thank you for blogging all of this - I'm learning so much!
Posted by: jen | October 13, 2010 at 09:06 AM
Steve & Alayne, love the blow-by-blow commentary. Austin is so beguiling, who could resist playing with him? Glad to see sweet Allie enjoying some doggy fun.
As alway, THANK YOU for your wonderful hard work and the delightful blog. I don't always comment, but I always smile after reading it.
Debbie Burke (left behind in MT)
Posted by: Debbie Burke | October 12, 2010 at 02:09 PM
This was an outstanding post, Steve! You have a flair for writing about the animals. Alayne, these are great photos! You got a terrific series of pictures. I clicked on them to enlarge them and get a good look at the action and the background.
On a different subject, are all the horses clamoring for a private showing of the new movie, "Secretariat?" :)
Posted by: Moon Rani | October 12, 2010 at 03:14 AM
How cute! You had your very own Pay-per-view wrestling match right out there in the yard! :)
Posted by: Ann | October 12, 2010 at 01:04 AM
My Libbey is part beagle mixed with border collie. She does the Ninja stance, just like Austin, on hind legs ready to pounce. I love watching them play. Who is the blond in the background who never moves once through the whole encounter?
Posted by: MarySue Carl | October 11, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Great pictures, but I would do some cropping to make them easier to see!
Posted by: bert shure | October 11, 2010 at 01:55 PM
It looks like Austin really got Allie into a playful mood -- what joyful abandon -- thanks for sharing these great pics :)
Posted by: Lynn Ledgerwood | October 11, 2010 at 01:26 PM
Too cute! - no little-dog-itis syndrome for Austin. I love the one where he is straight up and looming - little but lethal. They are surely having fun - and I had fun seeing this - have a great Monday.
Posted by: Angela | October 11, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Austin. We all need a friend like Austin.
Great blog post! Thanks for making me smile and chuckle.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | October 11, 2010 at 12:39 PM
YAY! Allie & Austin are both winners! I love the play by play! And, it's awesome that Austin has that ability to find someone to engage in a good wrestling match!
Posted by: Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin | October 11, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Love your commentary! I can always count on Rolling Dog for a daily chuckle! Sending love to everyone from Washington!
Posted by: nancy | October 11, 2010 at 11:47 AM
It appears from the photos that the dogs have collars on. If so, a word of caution. Several years ago our dogs were playing, just as these two are. The collar of one of the dogs became wrapped around the lower jaw of the other and cut off her air supply. Fortunately we noticed it in time to rush her to the vet--it appeared she was already dead. A few more minutes and she would have been dead. So, no more wearing collars when in the fenced yard.
Posted by: Kay | October 11, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Great sequence of photos. Maybe the more Allie is engaged in play, the more she'll like it. Good for Austin for getting her involved!
Posted by: Donna Belk | October 11, 2010 at 11:12 AM
How fun is that!! Way fun! Thanks for the action packed sequence.
Posted by: Ev | October 11, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Slobber Smackdownn at its best!
Posted by: Amy A | October 11, 2010 at 09:35 AM
Cute overload! What a feisty little guy Austin is.
Those pictures are interesting for another reason. I have often wondered if the dogs are let out all together or if they have separate yards. How many yard areas are there? How are the groupings decided? By who gets along with whom? And is "whom" even the right word there?
Inquiring minds want to know.... :)
Vote early, vote often!
Posted by: Lynne Parker | October 11, 2010 at 07:57 AM
Way to go Allie and Austin!
Posted by: Glenda | October 11, 2010 at 06:45 AM
I think I'd call it a tie, but kudos go to Austin for engaging Allie in this animated game!
Posted by: Linda | October 10, 2010 at 10:49 PM