A Harness Was Not The Solution

After the altercation between new dog Lucky, and my little Jack (the instigator), with Farmer H caught in the middle... all parties retired to their respective corners. Farmer H came into the Mansion for first aid for his bite/scratch. Lucky was left on the lead with his collar. Jack disappeared.

As I left for town, Jack came around the corner of the garage. I didn't see any bleeding on him. He was moving slower than usual, and seemed subdued. I hope it was just embarrassment from his recent thrashing, and not an internal injury. 

Farmer H later told me that he went back to put the harness on Lucky, on his way to the BARn. Jack came running, and Farmer H stuffed him into the pet carrier that had brought Lucky home. Then he put on the harness, which fit just fine. He let Jack out. Said Jack made sure he stayed out of range of Lucky on his lead. Farmer H went over to the Freight Container Garage to get some parts he needed to repair old fishing poles that he had in the BARn.

"I heard something behind me, and turned around, and it was LUCKY! He had chewed through the harness! I bet it hadn't been on him 20 minutes! He just came in looking for me. I walked back over to his cable, and attached it to his collar again. I guess that's the only way we can keep him tied up!"

"That may be how we ended up with him! Nobody could keep him in town, because he kept getting loose! Where was Jack?"

"The two of 'em were roaming around together! Not fighting!"

"I guess because you weren't there to fight over!"

"Maybe. I cain't believe Lucky chewed off that harness!"

For now, the collar is doing the trick. I drove T-Hoe over there to pet Lucky when I came home on Friday. He is a sweet dog. He jumped up once, but I said, "NO! Sit!" and he did! Then I called him back, and he stood for petting. Meanwhile, Jack had run over to greet me, and was jumping up like a fool. But he's small, and I told him no and pushed him down. He stayed out of Lucky's reach, getting petted with my right hand, while Lucky got the left.

When Farmer H got home, he took pork chop bones out for both dogs. Said Lucky was happy as he put the bone and a slice of bread in his food bowl. And that Jack had followed along into Lucky's territory, wagging his tail, and ate his portion that Farmer H tossed on the ground.

I have hope that we can manage their relationship without further incidents, until time for Lucky's very special operation.