Sometimes it's just hard to listen...

Well...we have to start somewhere I guess. So might as well start with a confession: I don't like to Listen.

There. I said it. Dog, it feels good to get that out! Phew! But I also say that I know all too well that there's implications to that confession! The most current one just happened this morning...

My Uncle Pete and I are always up at 6am (or somewhere close to it). It might be because I'm still on Turkey Time, I dunno. But regardless, I wake up and wake my Uncle up and we go for our morning walk - rain or shine - well, not exactly rain or shine cuz I don't like to pee in the rain. All the doggie-scents have been washed away and I can't seem to get a scent to pee. It's just my thing, ok?! Don't judge me...anyway, where was I?! I yeah, not listening...

Uncle Pete and I were out on our morning walk. It was a nice summer morning. Barely any movement anywhere. Hardly anyone is up...well almost no one. I detected the previous night when we were out on our evening walk, using my trusty nose, that it's Skunk Season. I don't really know what a skunk is...but dog are they interesting! They're different than cats (a cat story is coming soon!). Their tails are so intricate. They are always black with this bright, white line on their tails. I just can't stop looking at them! I've encountered them before. And I just can't seem to get enough!

Anyway, we were walking last night and smelled one out. I tugged on the lead a bit and my master clearly saw what it was and I just didn't understand (at the time) what all the fuss was about. He said 'No!' in Turkish so I could understand that it wasn't a good idea to mess around with them. But I didn't seem to understand. They're just like cats, aren't they? Cuddly to some, but cats are just on my list of the number of small animals that I like to chase around. Bunny Rabbits. Squirrels. Cats. Skunks. They're all the same to me. I don't honestly think I'll ever be able to catch one, but dog, they sure are fun to chase! But these funny, curious looking skunks...I just want to play with them all the time! I don't want to hurt them any. I just want to play! But I didn't remember the last time encountered one of them or I probably would not have reacted the way I did this morning...

You see, this park that we go to, Uncle Pete (UP for short; pronounced 'yoop') and I - is just great! He often lets me just run. He checks around before he unleashes me. But there's never anyone around because it's so super early. We like that. So, obediently, I sit when I hear the Turkish command, right at the beginning of the park. I'm always looking around for movement when we first enter...a squirrel maybe, or if I'm lucky, a rabbit. But I encountered one of them skunks and this springs us right into the topic of this blog entry - Sometimes I just don't want to Listen.

I listen fine when UP asks me to sit cuz it always means I'm gonna be able to do something I like doing - like run around in the park for a while or get a treat or something doggie-licious like that. But this morning is a great example of when I don't listen - and the consequences.

My master would say he almost heard an audible voice this morning, telling him not to unleash me, as it was skunk-season...but he wanted to be kind. He loves to see me run. I really enjoy it too. So I often hop a little higher just to give him a bit more enjoyment as he watches me play. But this morning I sure didn't give him enjoyment...He actually saw the skunk before I did.

He called out to me - he actually started yelling at me in Turkish so I would listen - but by then it was too late. I was in the zone. The DogZone. When I get in this zone, nothin's gonna stop me. It's a pretty bad trait. I know it. And I know it frustrates UP pretty good. But man...these animals that I zone in for are just irresistible! I even could tell you the steps when it happens. I stop in my tracks. I sniff them out. I crouch down a little and then I'm off. Nothin's gonna stop me! I just love to chase after these things. But as I discovered this morning, skunks don't like to run. They actually are pretty slow animals, which is why they got this spray instinct. Which is why I think they've got this thing they do...which I seem to keep forgetting. I'm sure (and UP is too) that if I remembered, I wouldn't keep going after these dog-gonnit skunks...but ya know what? Sometimes I just don't want to Listen. And it gets me into trouble. Pretty much all the time.

So...you guessed it. I got sprayed. I got sprayed real good, by this skunk. Right on my face. I was right in line for the spray of a life-time. And there was nothing UP could do about it. I knew he wasn't happy when I walked away from the skunk, rubbing my nose in the grass to somehow get the smell off...He didn't pet me. He only clipped my collar and walked me home. I sure could feel he wasn't happy. I don't like that feeling.

I know he was disappointed with me. He was disappointed with himself too, I'm sure. He knew it was skunk-season, but took me off-leash anyway. He was pretty upset with himself when we got home.

And it happened at the worst time - right before he was to leave for work! My Auntie helped me with some home remedy to take the stench away. And it's working out ok. She actually loves the smell of skunk so I guess you could say it worked in her favour. But apparently it's pretty important to clean me off sooner than later or I'll never get the stench off! Pretty drastic measures for such an innocent thing to do. All I wanted to do is just play...but it sure got me thinking.

Yea, I could have blamed UP. He should have taken better care of me. But that would be really, really unkind of me, as he feels awful about it. And he's been plagued by the 'If only...' game ever since (it's a pretty dangerous game to play - I don't recommend it - fetch is way better!). I could say I was just being a dog...but that, too, doesn't wag my tail.

I sure would like to say that being a dog means I listen all the time; that I obey when I'm spoken to. You people that take care of us dogs are pretty special. We, literally, wouldn't be able to survive without you. So, I guess what I'm saying is, I've come to terms with the stupid mistake of not listening. But there's consequences.

The picture (above) is me after a few 'deskunking' treatments done by my Auntie. I'm pretty messy, as you can see. I know it. I just wish I could remember this for the next time...

But I guess that's why we do mistakes, ruff? So we can learn and grow and be better people...ahem...I mean, better people AND dogs.

Hard lessons all around. I do confess that sometimes I just don't want to Listen...but I know I should.

'Til next time...

This is Sakin the Dog. Signing off!

Don't sniff another dogs butt until you've sniffed your own!

Skunked! (2017)

#skunked #hardtoavoid #tootempting