Kate W. in Missoula, who adopted blind Luke from us several years ago, just sent us this video of Luke picking strawberries. Kate wrote,
"For weeks now I've been trying to get a video of Luke picking strawberries. I don't know when he discovered this but one day I caught him mowing through my strawberry plants eating all the red or barely red berries. And I finally got a short video of it!
At first I thought of all the ways I could keep him out of my strawberries, a little fence, putting them up high, scolding him, etc. Then I realized what joy he got out of finding these tasty little morsels all on his own (you can see his tail wag a bit in the video when he finds one)... and I decided... fine... I've had two strawberries all season and Luke has eaten the rest and that's the way it will be.
Now I look forward to watching my boy muzzle around looking for ripe berries every time he goes outside."
So keep your eye on that strawberry dangling there on the left. It will quickly disappear!
---
New Shelter Challenge Begins
The latest round of the Shelter Challenge is underway and runs until October 13. You can vote every day here. To search for us, type in our name, Rolling Dog Farm, and Lancaster, NH 03584.
They have redesigned the contest site and made other changes. Please note that I cannot help with technical or voting problems. I also do not have an "inside track" to anyone at the Shelter Challenge, and I don't know any more about the contest than anyone else does. So if you find yourself having issues, please consult their FAQ page here and their Rules page, which is a pop-up you can find linked on this page.
Thanks for your votes!
Great story. Thanks for sharing Luke's sweet little foraging.
Posted by: Jennifer Carey | September 12, 2013 at 08:41 AM
Aw Lucas you are adorable! Get those berries!!
Posted by: Wendy, Baron, & Stoney | August 23, 2013 at 09:19 AM
Kate, giving up on fresh strawberries to allow Luke the fun and wonder and joy of finding his own treats brought tears to my eyes. It is the little kindnesses we share and give that make the world a special place. Bless you for letting his nose find the best of the berries.
Posted by: Anne in FL | August 22, 2013 at 07:23 PM
So very, very sweet!! I've watched the video three times now -- just to see that tail wag!
Posted by: Chris | August 22, 2013 at 05:32 PM
Sweet! How thoughtful of you. :)
I was maybe thinking raspberries, too - but careful- they take over!
It's sure funny the variation in tastebuds. Happiest of all for Luke's wonderful family and home.
Posted by: Margaret | August 22, 2013 at 02:49 PM
How fun for Luke! Thanks for the update on him and long may he find his strawberries!
Posted by: Linda | August 22, 2013 at 12:17 PM
How sweet that is!! Thank you to Kate for sending the video and letting us see her sweet boy "muzzle for strawberries".
Posted by: Chloe | August 22, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Love it! He is so proud of himself!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | August 21, 2013 at 08:33 PM
That is just precious! Joy is found many times in the small things...
Posted by: Leila K. - Belfair, WA | August 21, 2013 at 06:33 PM
That's so cute! And at least he eats them. I had a dog that used to bite half off of each strawberry and then spit it out. Hope springs eternal, and he kept trying to find one he liked.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | August 21, 2013 at 06:09 PM
Now, that's a good mom for deciding Luke's joy was a bigger reward than having the strawberries herself. Sweet video.
Posted by: Janet | August 21, 2013 at 04:01 PM
Very sweet. I love the little tail wag, then chomp chomp. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lisa | August 21, 2013 at 01:59 PM
Ha! Love it! My last house had a pear tree with low branches that my (sighted) Pomeranians used to pick from. They'd get the immature fruits from the lowest branches early on, then as the pears got bigger the paper branches would bow and they could get those too! It made them so happy!
Posted by: DarcC | August 21, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Years ago, our rescue Weimaraner discovered the strawberry pot. I would be waiting for a particular berry to ripen to perfection. The morning I was sure it was ready, I would go outside and...gone! Devoured by the dog who also had been waiting for that moment of perfection.
We've also had Labs who picked raspberries themselves, only when perfectly ripe.
Our GSH was more polite, waiting for me to pick the berry and feed it to him. Wait--maybe that wasn't polite so much as lazy and spoiled!
Posted by: Debbie Burke | August 21, 2013 at 01:00 PM
This is so funny! I just loved the tail wag! (Maybe you can plant some plants for yourself where Luke can't get to them...)
Posted by: Shirley and dachshunds Sunnie & Dieter | August 21, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Good Morning...thank you for the heads-up on that strawberry....how fun....thanks for sharing with us...darling!
Posted by: Valerie | August 21, 2013 at 12:28 PM
OK, how adorable is that video!! He seems so happy to have found that berry. And a fresh, organic strawberry has to be good for him. Guess Mom has to buy her own at the farm market. Thanks for the video Kate. Always nice to see how happy the former Rolling Dogs are at their forever homes.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | August 21, 2013 at 11:56 AM