. . . Shelley has a thing for moles, she seems to be able to hear them under the ground. Our soil is rock hard, so their little tunnels are very near the surface -- she'll run to one and start digging frantically. Usually she comes up with a little furry critter in her mouth - one shake and he's done - then she prances over proud as Punch to display her trophy.
Ruby is highly impressed and imitates her, but not necessarily on a mole run . . . just anywhere in the yard but unfortunately often in my flower beds . . . sigh, young'uns.
This is as good a place as any to post the new pics from last weekend's Retriever Training Day. This was Miss Ruby's very first time doing water retrieves. She loves to frolic in the edge of the surf and splash around lakes, but other than falling/jumping into my parents' pool she had never done any serious swimming before. It was amazing -- she was SO driven to get that bumper that she just hit the water and started swimming in a straight line out to it.
And when she got there, she nailed it just the same way she does on land. Doesn't worry her at all to put her head right under as she pounces on it.
And straight back in.
Now, when she got close, we had to have a little negotiation about who was going to get to keep that bumper . . .
I eventually got it after a slight struggle.
She can't wait to do it again - she's wound tight as a drum in that pic, and I'm holding her as hard as I can!
Yikes! She almost got away!
Meanwhile, Miss Shelley turns in her usual disciplined and precise performance . . . hope Ruby is taking notes!
"Make it a double, please!"