Odd-man out is a human term, but Lightning is finding out it can apply to dogs as well, literally.
The dogs are evolving into a more peaceful, or at least more playful coexistence at the farm.
Any two of the three dogs can play together happy and tail wagging as can be, but get all three together and Lightning is the odd-man out.
Theo and Hudson romp and faux fight, but generally ignore Lightning’s attempts to join in.
He usually comes over and sits next to me with a forlorn, “They won’t play with me look.”
I give him a pet, and a “Maybe you shouldn’t have bit them look.”
Lightning has turned into the more sympathetic one of the three. A few nights ago I stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle a bit. A hole dug by a dog, I might add.
I hit the ground with a few choice words and rolled around a bit.
Hudson came out to see what I was up to. I said a few more choice words, and Hudson quickly assessed the situation. He decided stocking up on food might be a good idea and headed for the dog dishes.
Theo looked out at me from under the porch, but he had a pretty unsympathetic look of “What did he do now?” on his face before putting his head back down.
Lightning on the other hand came out from around the house and lay on the ground next to me while I finished off the litany of bad words.
Course the way Hudson was going at the dog food he may have just been staking his claim.
Hudson played the tough dog for a few days after his bout with Lightning, but after a trip to Countryside for his annual shave he mellowed a bit.
It’s hard to act tough when you’re shaved naked with a little flyswatter puffball on the end of your tail.
With his tough man persona gone Hudson’s gone back to his devious ways. All three dogs dishes are spaced out across the porch, but every time Lightning walks away Hudson eats several big bites from the vacated bowl then goes back to his own before Lightning returns.
While traveling in the small truck, the two big dogs perch their front feet precariously on the side rail. Hudson usually takes up a position somewhere behind them, near the rear feet and butt.
