Yesterday afternoon around 6:30, I hustled Nicky, Eddie & Chipley into the car and drove them to the local park though still drizzling a bit. We had walked them earlier, and they went to the park at 8 am as well, so this was just a quick "get empty before the rain hits" trip. No one was there, they did appropriate business and were ready to go home when a nice black and white pit-bulldog mix came in. What a nice dog! He got Nicky, (yes, Nicky) playing and chasing him and Chipley as well. Another regular with a little black terrier type came, and later someone we know with another black and white pit mix. It was "tuxedo" day at the park, everyone black and white, and we were there till 8:30 pm…in still drizzling rain! Nicky chased tennis balls and buried them, Chipley chased tennis balls and partially returned them, he and Connor (the big bulldog-mix) ran up and down the beach, it was a blast. The fact that they stayed and played (even Eddie did a bit of running and chasing) for so long in wet weather defied all odds. Chipley was pretending to be a Border Collie ('throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball) and seeing Nicky chase a ball, bat it around then play at burying it was a hoot! Once a ball hit the water, she would sit and stare at it (willing it to return? or for a human to fetch it for her?) but on the beach she was demonstrating some fancy foot-work to get the ball where she wanted it. The only negative was Chipley stepped in some big glob of pink marine grease and I had to try and get it our of his foot-pads, which in turn got it all over my hands! The salt and sand did take care of 90% of the grease, but we had to have a foot wash when we got home… Chip jumped into the bathtub when I asked him to!
Truly an amazing night of un-basenji-like behavior!
Good thing they had such fun last night, today TS Debbie is keeping us indoors, and they are missing their weekly basenji get together. Just took each out under an umbrella to get the bladders empty, now all are snoozing away. We are lucky, we rarely get all-day rain here, but today may be the exception! Good thing Buddy'sPal has her nice covered potty-area, Uzie will be using it today!