Friday Night Fright.

Off-leash field. Pretty, isn't it?

The pup has been restless ever since I got home from work tonight. He went on alert about ten minutes ago after pacing back and forth from back door to master bath and back again. I wasn't too concerned until the cat came in from the bath with him and were both staring at the back door.

Crud.

Pulling on jeans... throwing on hoodie... slipping on shoes... leashing Bandit (just in case).

Throwing on the outside lights. Front and back (just in case). Nope. Not really chicken. Folks, I can confirm from personal experience that there's bear in them there woods!

Out the door we went.Walked the perimeter. Driveway side to back of house. Behind the shed and raised beds. Hearing the same 'yip' 'yip' we've been hearing every time we've spotted the fox and a few times when we've only seen sign.

More on the fox here. (You can skip it if you want to know how fright night ends before I tell you this little snippet. Scroll to the next bold text.)

So the fox... I suspect it's a female in heat or a young 'un on it's own for the first time. Bandit has been rather unruly on the leash of late and that's unlike him unless another dog is around. He's also been rubbing his nose in the scent. Know what I mean, Vern?

We've been spotting sign on the trail for a while and actually watched it cross our paths twice. Once at the crack of dawn down before you get to the big river bend. It started across the trail in front of us. Froze still in mid-stride when I hissed for Bandit to stay. Looked us right in the eye and nonchalantly turned and headed back from whence he came.

The second time was closer to home. Bandit had tried to tell me something was down over the bank, but I pulled him away (skunks seem to be migrating right now and who needs that?) We were headed down to the river bend, but at the last minute I had second thoughts about going that way. It was a fairly nice morning and I thought bone-head would enjoy a little off-leash time. We usually stay on-leash on the trail because you never know who or what is going to come up behind you. This area could probably be considered country suburban. Even here people seem content sticking to the mainstream. Anyway, we've only ever run into one other person off-trail and had plenty of warning they were coming up on us.

Anyway...

We had just turned back around to climb the hill to an open field where he can run without fear of running into game or other people. At least, not after the sun has risen. And there it was. Trotting gracefully across the trail, down into the brush. So beautiful.

Where was the camera? BOTH TIMES? You guessed it. At home on it's little hook. All snuggled down in it's carrying case. *sigh*

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

So we hear this 'yip-yip'. Then silence. Two heartbeats later the tree frogs begin their chorus anew. Hmmmm....

We head toward the north side of the house and Bandit freezes. Staring at the arborvitae hedgerow from whence the bear raiding party arrived in days gone by.

What fun.

So now the questions is: Do I go toward the hedgerow and let the dog do his thing every twenty feet? Or do we keep heading around the north side of the house?

Yep! Hedgerow it is.

Nothing in the hedgerow, but Bandit is scenting the air, walking "on guard" and looking toward the old railroad bed down the road a bit. We walk the perimeter of the front lawn. Around the apple trees, down the drive and back. All this time, he is looking at the same place. Nose raised to the air. Allowing me to lead him, but watching the same spot.

Now, keep in mind that I live in the suburbs and that there are streetlights. Knowing that main street is a short hop away, we walk a short piece down the road. Bandit lets his guard down when we get to a certain point. I figure our aggressive move has scared off whatever he was smelling.

We turn back around. Get not even ten feet down the road back toward the house and he plants his feet and points his muzzle at something along the treeline a few feet away.

Crud.

IMHO, "leave it" is one of the best commands ever. I'm so glad I taught it to him.

We backed away and came inside. But I was too keyed up to go back to reading, so I thought I'd share my little adventure with you. We'll wait until morning to see what kind of tracks are on the other side of the tree line. If there are any there at all.

I've yet to see fox tracks. Have you? Perhaps we'll take a look down by the river.