"I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter (or a rabbit killer)..."

My husband has employed new tactics in attempting to convert Moses to his dog.  Since I'm consumed with puppy & mama care right now, I notice that Moses is constantly at Brian's side (Brian thinks he is getting away with this constant companionship, but I see what he's trying to do).  And he's even gone below the belt by starting a new game with Moses (as if a fun new game is enough to make Moses forget how much he loves me!).  

He takes Moses to the fence that divides our property in half.  This fence separates our dogs from their all-too-familiar front acre and the Holy Grail of smells in the back 2 acres.  They are only allowed past the fence when accompanying one of us, and even then it's a rare treat (as they immediately begin digging for squirrels with their noses and rub off all that beautiful black pigment).

So the new game.  He takes Moses to the fence and opens the gate.  However, he requires that Moses sit at the gate and wait for a release command.  I've seen him from the kitchen window, walking all the way to the barn and back while Moses dutifully sits, waiting to be released.  When Brian finally says "Ok!", Moses does the fastest celebratory lap around the arena that you can possibly imagine.  He's just so happy!

Today, something different happened.  Brian opened the gate and like the incredibly obedient boy that he is, Moses simply sat (after a few days of this, he no longer has to be told to stay - he just knows.  THE smartest dog.).  It was early morning and the fog was heavy in the pasture, so when Brian released Moses, he was surprised to see him bolt straight past him towards the outside edge of the barn.  Little did Brian know, but Moses had smelled a rabbit.  Brian said he has never seen a dog move so fast.  Within moments, Moses was back at Brian's side and guess what was in his mouth?  You got it.  The rabbit.

True to character, Moses did not eat the rabbit or run off with it or play with it.  He brought it directly back to Brian and dropped it at his feet.  Brian (possibly more stunned than the rabbit) stared at it for a moment and watched incredulously as Moses began to lick the rabbit (just like he licks the cat).  He licked and then looked to Brian as if to say, "Want to try it?!?"  

Shortly thereafter, the stunned bunny came to its senses and began to move off.  Brian quietly told Moses to stay, which he of course did (have I mentioned how obedient Moses is and how much he longs to please?).  Together they watched the bunny hop back to its hiding place at the barn (if bunnies could talk, this one would have a story to tell!).

Part of me wonders whether Brian planted that bunny just to win Moses' affection (after all, what Golden doesn't love chasing a bunny and bringing it back to his human?).  I can see that I'm going to have to step up my game to make sure that my husband doesn't abscond with my dog while I care for these little pups.:)

Oh, how we love that dog...