Little puppy Pepper is growing into adolescence. He's all gangly and leggy, and a bit clumsy at three months old. He has stopped nipping at our hands when petted. He still takes a nip at Jack, in their playful shenanigans.
Farmer H's favorite antic of Pepper's is when he steps right over Jack's back. Pepper is almost tall enough to do it, but gets stuck. A couple days ago, it happened on the side porch when I came home, and Farmer H was sitting there with the dogs.
Pepper had three legs over, but his right rear leg was stuck. So he was kind of perched on Jack's back. Then he turned to take a nip at Jack's ear. Jack objected, but couldn't get turned to nip in return, with Pepper resting across his back like a saddle. A growl, and running out from under Pepper, solved the issue.
On Thursday, Farmer H came out to get his tractor for HOS (Farmer H's Oldest Son) to use for some yard work.
"I stopped over in the BARn field, and Pepper come runnin' up to me as fast as he could. He slammed right into my leg! That made him flip over, and he started yelpin' like he was really hurt. Stupid dog!"
"Well, he was just happy to see you. He loves you."
"Yeah, maybe."
We thought Pepper must have learned his lesson about running and stopping. He'll be more careful, getting used to his bigger, faster body. Maybe he's not learning as fast as we anticipated.
Saturday, I was rounding the Juno house corner of the porch, leaving for town, when I heard the dogs coming. They lounge in the sun on the front porch until they hear me slam the kitchen door. Then they come running for their snack, which I toss down at the top of the steps.
Pepper was in the lead. He came barreling at me and SLAMMED into my left shin, a few inches below the knee. Good thing that's not my worse knee, and that I was able to grab the corner of the house. Pepper didn't yelp. But he got a stern, "Pepper! NO!" It made enough of an impression that he stopped jumping, and got behind me to follow me to the steps. Where he danced on his hind legs waiting for the snack, careful not to touch me.
I hope Pepper gains some coordination soon. These old bones can't take a beatin' like they used to.
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