Charlie Sue's Outside and Inside Fun

 

Charlie even got special artistic modeling from Norma A. Boeckler.

I knew life would be different when the vet's office did not know what a Patterdale Terrier was. They had to look it up on the Net. She is part chihuahua, so that may balance the cute with the terror. 

Charlie has two natures. Outside she wants to dig for food, manage three groups of dogs, and practice Patterdale kung fu on me. She flies by hoping to chew on my forearms in flight. That creates some scratches and little bite marks. Later on, inside, she checks out my wounds and plays the nurse. If I remind her to be gentle she gently licks the latest wound and looks quite contrite.

Inside, Charlie is a cuddler. She enjoys the end of the day streaming videos - currently a history of food in America and great country houses in England. We work on ancient history, engineering marvels and disasters. She rests her chin on my shoulder and goes to sleep over time. Charlie likes to rest her head in my hand and slowly relax. It makes me think she did that in her first home.

"Why do I need to bark so much? I'm cute!"

"Where's my groomer?"

Today Dustmop (toy poodle) and Porchie came to the fence for some attention. The Great Pyrenees appreciates lavish appreciation and finger combing. He likes to hear how handsome and athletic he is. Dustmop uses him to jump and chew (lick) my fingers. Porchie stood up against the fence, and also turned each way on all fours for some high-end finger combing. He starts by pointing East on all fours, then turns to face West for the other side. Combing his head and chest is welcome and expected.

Shortie (Corgie) was our guest for a few days. He had the best time, and so did we. Both dogs were fun, totally at peace with each other.

Two Smiles

 

Charlie Sue is the leader for four areas:

1. Our backyard for digging, chasing animals, coaching her dog friends in races.
2. Doggie Daycare for visitors coming and going to the northside fence.
3. The trampoline inside the southside fence, guarded by Porchie and Dustmop, her boyfriends.
4. The pug on the northside and canine visitors along the grass alley.

My Ball :)

I bought an overpriced ball for Charlie but she was openly disgusted with it. Noise came out of it, and it was too hard  and big for her to handle. I wanted to give it to Porchie and Dustmop, but only if an older person knew. The time came and I rolled the burping ball into their yard. 

Later that day, one of the little ones on the trampoline were jumping up and down on the trampoline. A little girl with lots of curly hair held onto the ball, grinned, and said, "My ball."

Postal Smile

 The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941

I needed to go to the post office to send off a box to Canada. The paperwork is equal to the IRS, without the refund. I waited in line for my paperwork, filled it out, and went to a second line. The postal worker was new to me but clearly a veteran. I waited while he filled out everything quickly. He inhaled sharply when the cost came up. I said, "Two of the books are hard to find in good shape and triple this price."

He was intrigued. "How did you get those books?" He smiled at the thought of sending them away.

I said, "They are hymnals. I got them from my house because I am a pastor."

He went from a small grin to a big one, "That is wonderful. That really makes my day. I am so glad we got to talk."

 Porchi goes eye to eye with me for hugs and finger combing his beautiful fur; Dustmop gently attacks my fingers, jumping up if I reach over.

Charlie Sue Time

 

Charlie Sue is a Patterdale Terrier

A member wanted more Charlie stories.

Every day is fun with the prankster Charlie Sue. Her breed is sociable and that hardly begins to describe her. She is friends on the south fence, the north fence, and the west fence in the backyard. She loves them all and enjoys teaching them to race along the fence. She never barks indoors but she cheers the dogs on whenever they get lax.

Porchi and Dustmop are shaggy white dogs. One is huge and the other is half the modest size of Charlie. If I go out with the squeaker toys, they race with Dustmop and Charlie barking away. 

Can Charlie come over and play? And how about a thorough finger combing from her staff?
He turns around so both sides are thoroughly combed by my fingers. Fur flies.

We are getting more 60 to 70 degree days, so Charlie stays out most of the day, often digging holes (a Patterdale skill) and always staying along the fences with various dogs. 

Inside she is just as lovable, but always quiet. She does not bark for food, but twirls, which is always funny. To go out, if she is on her bed (which I lease from her), she twirls, jumps down, twirls, jumps up, twirls, just to show her joy and make sure she is going out. In the kitchen, going out is signaled by a wagging tale, especially when she hears the chatter and woofs of her favorite male friends.

 Charlie, Dustmop, and Porchie worked together to create a tunnel under the fence. Dustmop crawled under both ways and my helper quickly put down a lot of chicken wire. Even then, Charlie tried to go under the wire, so more obstacles were place on the wire. Ever have a big bucket of useless rocks? I did and they now rest over one wire roofed tunnel.

If the Doggie Day Car residents dare to challenge her, Charlie rushes over to sass them one and all. Sometimes that gets them so noisy that they are called into their quarters. However, the chief of staff has learned that all the yakking is part of racing the fence, Charlie teaching and coaching and yipping. I have even seen Charlie walk away when a DDC dog begs to run along the fence with her.

Charlie is the ultimate cuddler. She loves to hear what a special dog she is and how much her friends love her. She must store up her kisses by the 50s, because she never wants to stop. Charlie makes it clear how she wants petting and where she wants to lie on her bed. I made a square of MyPillows and covered them with a sturdy blanket, more of a square donut with an indentation in the middle.

We watch documentaries together and she rests her chin on my shoulder. Right now we are on the series Tea, One Cup, A Thousand Stories.

If I am immersed on the computer, she rests her chin on my knee. That can be a request for a treat or a trip outside. She is more likely to go outside in the dark if her boyfriends are making some noise. A "woof woof" is a clarion call for her. Above the low "woof" I often hear the chatter of Dustmop. They may be greeting human guests, but Charlie just has to see them one more time.

We have a lot of fun tossing her squawking plastic balls - about six of them. She will bring one back full speed and then will veer away to hide it. She often carries one to do a full circle, Indianapolis 500 style race with a big grin on her face. If I reach out to catch her, she runs even faster. 

I noticed her stash of multiple toys in one place or another. The DDC dogs often have a pile of colored toys on the other side of Charlie's fence stash. Charlie picked the worst and most thorny rose she could find as her little safe.

Charlie Sue's Playtime in the Snow

 

Charlie Sue loves the backyard, not only the space for racing and chasing balls, but also visiting her dog friends along the South, West, and North fences. 

I went out with her twice to have some fun. She also had a third romp much later.

She loves to race full speed toward me and change course instantly. She also runs on her back legs for a short distance, no doubt to find prey. She loved the snow fell asleep after each adventure.

All the dogs stayed inside.

Our Over-the-Fence Greeter

Charlie Sue trained our fence guard in chasing up and down the fence line. He is a Great Pyrenees, known for their ability to protect the flock. He is gentle, high speed racer. Once Charlie got him going, he circled the trees, sheds, and the whole yard. 

I saw his eyes light up when I first told him about his attributes. When I go outside, he stands up at the fence for a conversation about how gentle, kind, and handsome he is.  He loves to have his thick white fur finger-combed, so I drag my fingers on one side, only to have him face the other way for a thorough combing of his other side. 

Sassy Sue loved finger-combing too and really hated various brushes.

Charlie Sue and Friends

 

Charlie Sue is very bright, easy to teach, timid indoors, fun and always unpredictable. When asked to do things (like coming indoors), she sometimes puts her head down, walks sadly away, sits, and looks proudly as if to say, "You are not my boss."

Drought plus Charlie racing in the back = no grass.

Charlie Sue is a Patterdale Terrier, a prankster, a remarkable digger and runner. 

Porchie is a Great Pyrenees, the first of Charlie's students in racing up and down the fence. All three are diggers, so we added chicken wire and obstacles to the fence. 

Charlie Sue has trained Dustmop, Porchie, and the Doggie Daycare dogs to race along the fence with her. She barks commands at them but never barks in the house.

Charlie Sue's Photo - More To Come