Peewee and Keiki take on the yard monster
Last week I wrote an article about Voles and how destructive they can be to plants and gardens. In this week’s article I would like to share with you an experience concerning dogs and voles.
I think the best approach to this article is to explain my dogs. Peewee is a brown and black long-hair Dachshund and Chihuahua mix (badger chasers). He is very alpha male even though he’s very loving and obedient. He thinks he’s Rottweiler in training. He is definitely the crew leader.
Keiki is a Rottweiler (protector) and all girl. She’s loving, kind to children and very obedient, even though she is very large and muscular, she willingly submits to Peewee’s leadership.
Peewee and Keiki are inseparable. They love to run through our pasture chasing birds, butterflies and sometimes a squirrel or two.
As I explained in last week’s article, I trap yard voles so that my wife can have her garden. Both Peewee and Keiki know the garden area is off limits to digging, peeing, pooping and chewing on plants. If they do any of those things while in the garden they are in big trouble.
On the other hand they know the remainder of the property is open to them to explore and do whatever dogs do best and most of the time that is play with each other and chase other yard monsters.
Last Sunday after finishing my article and posting it for the editor to review, I settled down in our TV room to watch the boob tube and relax.
While I was dozing off, I kept hearing something hit the window from across the room. I truly tried to ignore it; however, the sound kept getting louder and louder. Feeling annoyed but yet inquisitive, I finally looked up only to see the window glass heavily speckled with what looked like mud.
I slowly got out of my chair and walked to the window which I could barely see out of. Dirt kept hitting the window.
Wondering what the heck was going on; I smartly walked into the living room and went to the exterior door, opened it and walked outside.
To my absolute shock and horror my front yard looked like an nine-hole golf course with an ATV dirt bike course in the middle of it. As I panned my yard looking at the total unbelievable destruction, I saw two distinct butts sticking out of the tunnels they were digging.
I screamed “Peewee, Keiki” and two mud-covered heads popped up, tongues hanging out of their mouths. It almost looked like they were smiling at me.
They crawled out of their prospective holes and sat there wagging their tails.
As I approached them I could see by Peewee’s expression that he was fighting the urge to go back into the hole and continue the hunt.
The moral to this short story is never let a Badger hunting dog go on a Vole hunt.
Cowboy Wisdom:
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad decisions made in the past.
If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to nwees@hughes.net or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church street, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What would Ed do?
For more information about Ed, and his new handyman services, check him out at NWEES.COM.
n Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection & remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.