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Floppy Dog Diary

Uh Oh... I got in real trouble for the first time ever- yesterday!

Mommy took me trail riding yesterday and I got in BIG trouble!

She thought I'd been being a real good boy greeting strange people and dogs real nicely on the trail... so I gave her quite a shock when I ran up to a gentleman walking a Pointer on a leash and halti - and I attacked! Mommy saw me heading over there and tried calling me back, then she tried the shock collar (which I usually ignore but she refuses to turn it up) and then when I got there and lunged at the dog - oh boy was she upset. The poor dog tried to hide behind his owner who was getting wrapped up in the leash and I was still snarling and trying to bit the dog. The man raised his hand up to hit me and gosh did she move fast. I didn't think Mommy could hop off her horse so fast and boy when I stopped my attack and saw her behind me as she grabbed me by the scruff I knew I was in trouble.

Mommy says she feels very guilty now for "unleashing on me"... she stood over me shaking my scruff and sort of yelling in a low tone as she smacked my butt two times and then continued to just stand over me and stare. I finally whimpered and looked at the ground and she told me to stay put as she joined Daddy apologizing to the poor man and his dog. Mommy said I am very lucky that I didn't hurt either of them and that if I ever try anything like that again I will no longer be trail riding. She also said that I am a Golden Retreiver and those are supposed to be NICE dogs - not bullies.

I think I really scared Mommy and she hopes this never happens again. I felt really bad that I made Mommy so upset and for the rest of the day I was the best minded dog Mommy had ever seen. I'm not sure why I didn't like that dog - at home I don't bother my old man Beagle brother and I always let my sister the Chesapeake rule the roost (Mom has to tell her to leave me alone most of the time). I'm going to try to be nice from now on - I don't ever want Mommy to be that mad at me again.

I love trail riding!

I went on my second trail ride this weekend and boy is it fun! I get to ride in the truck with Mom and Dad and then I get to run, run, run all over trails. It is really hard to understand what Mom and Dad want from me though... I am so used to being told to walk next to them but now they keep yelling "out front" and pointing forward and if I don't move they yell "go, go"! I think it is hard on them too though because I finally got the hang of out front and I must have gone TOO out front because then they were yelling "Bentley - that's far enough, get back here". The other kind of funny thing is that I've figured out how to really make Mom panic - I sometimes walk under the horses! Boy was she ever yelling when she saw that, I'm pretty sure she thought I'd get stepped on but I was quick. If I forget to stay out front and I start walking behind that butt head white horse called Thunder he tries to kick me! By the end of the second day I was figuring out that "out front" is for my own good. I hope they take me more and more... but I heard Mom tell Dad that I'm going to give her a heart attack!

I have them fooled!

Ah hah - I've done it! I've finally convinced dad that I am not as smart as Bella and that she would be a much better hunter than I. Last year I went hunting with dad and I think I did quite well... however, I don't want to do it again. Why would any smart dog think it is fun? I didn't like running around in thick bushes being told "get 'em up" and getting all kinds of stickers and leaves stuck in my beautiful golden coat - mom had to spend forever cleaning me up afterward! I also thought it was dumb to be running around outside when it is that cold and my mom is inside curled up with Old Man Bill the Beagle reading a book and drinking hot chocolate - I'd much prefer to be inside with her. So I've been ignoring dad when he tells me to do things and letting Bella retrieve the toys from the creek! Oh - don't get me wrong, I am bigger, faster and smarter than Bella - but I'll never let them know that. I heard dad just last night saying to mom "Bentley is too slow and Bella is smarter so I'll take her hunting this fall and leave Bentley home with you". I saw mom look at me knowingly and smile... I pretended to have hurt feelings when the truth is I wanted to jump for joy. Woo hoo! Hot chocolate in front of the fire and moms belly rubs - looking forward to hunting season!