Have you ever been looking for something and you just can’t see it, but it’s actually right in front of your nose? When I was a kid my mother always said, “If it was any closer, it would bit you.” This is one of those times.
As is usual with me, some of the funniest incidents that happen with my dogs, happen when I’m not ready with the camera.
This was the case Sunday morning. Since I wasn’t ready with my camera, I’m going to do my best to paint a picture for you.
Long time readers will remember Delilah has an obsession with chipmunks. You can read about that here, and here.
Delilah loves to chase the chipmunks but she really has no chance because she runs out barking like a fool. For years I’ve been telling her, “Stealth my love, stealth.” But she doesn’t listen.
On the weekends, Hubby and I take turns sleeping in. Saturday is his day and Sunday is mine. I decided to hit the grocery store early, so breakfast was a bit late.
The dogs were both intent on Hubby who was in the kitchen working on breakfast. I happened to walk by the french doors and noticed two chipmunks sitting out on the retaining wall.
The chipmunks in our yard aren’t THAT big, I just haven’t yet mastered photoshopping.
I ever so carefully opened the door. Typically when I open that door, it makes a noise that alerts the chipmunks, but that didn’t happen on Sunday.
Instead, I opened the door and stood there watching the chippies, trying to figure out how to get Delilah over there without tipping the chips or Sampson off.
Delilah looked over at me, realized the door was open and casually sauntered over to and then out the door. At this point, the chipmunk closest to the house, jumped off the wall and darted into one of his tunnels. (That’s the one facing UP the steps).
Delilah didn’t see that chipmunk, instead, she headed for the steps.
And then she stopped.
Right in front of the other chipmunk. I mean, the chipmunk was literally 8 inches away from her head. If she’d only turned to her right, she could have snapped that chipmunk up.
But she didn’t.
Instead, the chipmunk turned around and ran up the rest of the steps and Delilah had NO IDEA anything had happened, until she got to the top of the steps. She must have caught a whiff of chip because she darted over to one of their entrances and started sniffing about.
Fee fie foe fun, I smell the smell of chipmunk scrum. (Old photo, we have green up there now!)
I stood in the doorway, and said to Hubby, “Did you SEE that?”
But he didn’t.
And there I was, at the door unable to capture it on film when I realized my camera was right next to the door.
Right next to it! If it was any closer, it would have bit me.
I guess I know where Delilah gets it from. 🙂
Sounds like the circle of life is complete and working in your neck of the woods! That’s hysterical. 🙂
Look at the bright side – she didn’t grab it and bring it in to run around the house, sharing it with everyone.
That was my mom’s favorite phrase, too! She probably said it to me at least ten times a week.
I remember one time a squirrel fell out of a tree and landed right in between Coco and Pixie – our first two dogs. They were all so surprised that they just froze in place. But, as soon as the squirrel shook himself off and started to run, the dogs took off after him. Mom and I laughed about that for weeks.
So frustrating! Mom often loses her sunglasses only to find them on her head, or she panics because her cellphone is missing, but she is actually talking on it. Humans are just silly!
This happens to my dogs all the time. If it doesn’t move, they don’t see it. It’s especially true with deer when the wind is blowing their scent away from us. I can’t open our backdoor without both my knuckleheads barrelling/woofing out every single time. All wildlife gets fair warning to head for the fenceline!
Lol, too funny. Poor Delilah, she didn’t know what she had missed.
My mother was more graphic, she said if it was a snake it would have bitten you.
Dogs have predator eyes. They see movement football fields away, but they are not so good with still objects.
Great story!! My mother used to use that expression as well! I wonder if those chippies knew it was their lucky day?
Hahahaha. Sometimes Cocoa does not notice something right in front of her. She becomes so fixated on something in the distance or whatever that she misses the cat or rabbit near her!!
Great story! Lila walked passed some ducks today, and I wondered why! She missed seeing them. In her defense, I must say, they did blend in with their surroundings. It was nice that she didn’t go running off after them since I was holding onto her leash.
LOL! This happened with Jasper once. He was dozing under the lilac bush and a squirrel started to saunter by, saw him, froze, and then skedaddled away as fast as he could. Jasper just watched him. Unlike Delilah, he saw the squirrel. Did nothing. Silly dog.
It was Cupcake who taught him squirrels were for chasing. 🙂
Freighter was out in the yard not long ago, and in the next yard sat Mr. Bunny in the grass. Only one problem, I did not have the electric fence collar on Freighter and I was hoping he would not bolt after the bunny. Would have been a test of recall. Lucky for me there was no wind and the bunny was in the shadows so completely blended into the background. Bunny left and Freighter never had any idea it had been there.
That’s funny. Are Labs scent dogs or sight? Because that reminds me of a story with our beagle – definitely a scent hound! Bailey used to always chase the squirrels and bunnies our yard. One day i went out and there was this oblivious bunny hoping along our fence. The dog came out and started sniffing around, and I was shriek-whispering to her and pointing frantically, “Over there! There’s a bunny RIGHT THERE!” And she could definitely smell it and knew it was out there, but she had to go nose-to-the-ground and follow everywhere he’d been before she could get around to the spot – that of course he vacated long before she got close enough. It was like those stupid Family Circus cartoons where you follow the dashes – – – – – – – to see everywhere the kids have been. (That also reminds me… once I got to SEE how that sniffer of hers really works. We briefly lived where it snows, and one day I could see that she was only nose-to-the-ground-ing in places where there were little critter tracks in the snow. I realized her world when we went on walks was all those little critter tracks – but I was only aware of them when there was a trail in the snow.)