3/15/2004

is the topic of discussion between Sugar and Dixie this Sunday morning with Mazie chiming in with “Yeah. Don’t make him come down from the big house.”
After their initial attempt to find a way out of the pen with Dixie slipping through a tiny gap at the gate that I quickly plugged only to see Sugar start to dig at the other side of the gate. I put a stop to that with a rolled up newspaper and nervous Sugar started avoiding the gate to the point of walking a loop around it when walking the perimeter. Cement to follow, though Indigo’s suggestion for razor wire has been filed away for future reference.

The dogs settled in yesterday afternoon and stayed relatively quite while I worked in my veggie garden near the pen. . It was at dark that the trouble started with Dixie and Sugar barking on a regular rhythm spaced just enough that when you were getting up from your chair to do something, they would shut up. I had expected this for a few days till they settled in and learned the neighborhood routine, but I was determined to show them who was top dog around here. And it wasn’t Lu.

Lu’s just second in command though Maizie looked at he like she was some type of flop eared rabbit that first afternoon till Lu opened up at her and sent Maizie fleeing to the other side of the pen.

I finally had enough of it and went to the pen and had a talk with them. They shut up after that till about 11:00 when Dixie started barking at every little noise. That went on till I went to have a stern discussion with the ringleader, Dixie, with a rolled up newspaper. Now I just hold the paper up while I’m standing on the deck. That’s enough to shut them all up and send them to the other side of the dog houses.

Then, at daylight, the fight started . I didn’t see who started it or who was fighting. I just hit the pen silently and swinging the newspaper like a mad man. They have been on their best behavior all day now. Brag and I moved two houses in the pen this morning and now I’m listening to the great settler of dogs…Kids. Two different groups have crossed the ditch and have been talking to the dogs all afternoon when not playing nearby. They’re all a little young to tote my rabbits next year, but maybe in a couple of years......