Birds and dogs don’t mix, unless one or the other is canned

I was gardening the other day and came across a Chickadee nest suspended between the stalks of several particularly large weeds (the area hadn’t been gardened in a while…). Inside the nest were four small hatchlings, looking perfectly healthy and hungry. Slightly alarmed that I had disturbed their nesting place, I retreated immediately and watched from inside to make sure their mother returned to the nest. She did, and all was well for the next few days. My dogs, not having been purchased for their hunting abilities, didn’t come across the nest. I thought the story was over, until the next time I had garden in the same area, which happened a few days later. This time, I tried to avoid the nest and all seemed well at first, but I quickly realized that I had made a mistake in letting the dogs stay outside with me. They generally hang around the area of the yard that I am in, and inevitably, Cheddar discovered the nest. When he knew I was watching, it was only with polite interest that he sniffed the nest and the tiny birds within. But I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to go back indoors to do other things, and when that happened, Cheddar wouldn’t hesitate to pull the nest from its location and kill the babies inside. I decided my only option was to move the nest several feet away into a higher bush, and hope that the mother watched and noted the location. I did so, and after painstaking and nervous surveillance from the kitchen window, I finally observed the mother finding the nest. She wasn’t the only one that discovered the new location, however. The next morning, I checked the new bush to find the nest pulled partially apart on the ground and the babies gone. I knew it was Cheddar– he has a track record of bird violence. Nevertheless, I was furious and attempted to “teach” Cheddar the error of his ways, which probably had little or no positive effects. I realize now that he thought he was just doing his job, and I will have to act more shrewdly the next time I discover helpless animals in the yard.

Weird noises and nonexistent werewolves

As I am sitting at my desk, the radio playing softly in the background, and only the faint sound of my chinchillas exploring in their cage to otherwise distract me, I suddenly hear such a strange sound emanating from behind me that I whirl around in my chair. It almost sounded like a wolf’s howl, and having just recently listened to J.K. Rowling’s accounts of werewolves and the like, my imagination cranks out horrible images and dire situations as I scan the small room for the origin of the disturbance. My first reasonable thought is that one of my family members, who were still absent when I last checked, may have returned and tried to play a trick on me. But then I stare down at the seemingly innocent face of Cheddar, who is lounging on my carpet right behind my chair. His one visible eyeball swivels to stare at me, as if he knows that there is no sufficient reason to lift his head. I smile. It’s normally my other dog, Abby, who makes the strange and un-dog-like noises. Apparently, Cheddar likes to try out his own sound effects once in a while. And meanwhile, I’ve wasted three minutes staring around my room looking for werewolves.

Welcome to the 2thedogs Debut!

Welcome to the 2thedogs blog, a place where I’ll be posting useful and fascinating information about dogs in general, and where you can either comment or leave while shaking your head in disgust. It’s your choice. Check out pictures coming soon of my own dogs, Cheddar and Abby. Please feel free to tell me about your dogs in your comments. My website, 2-the-dogs.com, will up soon. Be sure to check it out– you’ll find useful free articles and interesting items that your canines will love. Be sure to check back here again soon!