My dogs are spoiled—I won’t refute that fact. John and I should both do more to…well, do more. But we are who we are, and so are the dogs. John rehomed the alligators from the pond by the ranch house, so we decided to give our staycation another go. I predicted many things.
I predicted Sadie and Ruger would follow me into the woods, just like they did last time. I predicted Rebel would once again take to the pond—this time without alligators. Without the reptiles in the pond, this would be the perfect outing. But our dogs had different plans.
No one followed me into the woods. The dogs had their own plans. John and I hadn’t prepared for this kind of rebellion. We called and cajoled and offered treats. No one took us up on our offers. At last Rebel appeared. Rebel? Wait! The dog who listens to no one? An hour later Ruger showed up, and thirty minutes Sadie. What? Our Sadie? The one who never leaves home, for fear of missing treats? And yet, she was the last one in the house.
The next morning John left at 5 a.m. to hunt deer. All dogs wanted outside to follow their beloved master. But did they? Or was it an excuse to trip the light fantastic?
It must have been my fuzzy brain. Or was it my sense for adventure? Whatever it was, I let all three dogs out the door shortly after John exited. Around six a.m. Rebel returned. What? Our crackhead dog had returned from adventures first?
The sun woke me around eight o’clock. Rebel snoozed by my side. Oh, what a horrible dog owner I was, leaving my two canines outside to romp about with the bobcats and feral hogs and coyotes! I muddled out of bed, didn’t even stop to perk up the coffee pot. I was off to the front porch, calling and cajoling the remaining dogs back to the ranch house. “Treats!” I yelled, along with their names. But nothing.
Approximately 9 a.m. Ruger joined the morning party, and Sadie appeared about thirty minutes later. Sadie, my geriatric boxer mixed breed. The one who was always up for a treat—or two, and hopefully three. Yet, she’d turned treats down for adventure. And that got me to thinking.
What’s my motivation? Is it a chocolate chip cookie, or a stroll downtown? Would I rather stay home with a cup of tea and a plate of crackers, or do I enjoy a stroll about the park? My dogs obviously prefer adventure over treats. But what about you? What’s your motivation? Please email me and let me know!
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1985 and lives in Grand Cane, Louisiana. She also writes books, which are for sale at www.jannfranklin.com. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com