Cheyenne wants to be a human baby. Although she was originally excited about the baby’s arrival, she is now reconsidering this position as the baby seems to receive quite a bit of specialized attention that she wasn’t quite prepared to share. She still celebrates when he comes home and licks his face joyously but the rest of the time she goes back and forth between sulking around with a befuddled, wounded expression and trying her hardest to “out-cute” the baby, sometimes resorting to imitating the baby. Which, by the way, her annoying antics are far less funny and much more… annoying than before the baby came. But I digress. Today I was giving Baby Boy sweet potatoes, which was hilarious in itself. He was so excited, grabbing the spoon, putting it to his mouth, and then as soon as the sweet potatoes reached his mouth, this disappointed look would take over his features and he would immediately blow the sweet potatoes off his spoon and everywhere. Meanwhile, Cheyenne was beside herself, wagging her whole body, pawing me, climbing on me. When Baby Boy was finished I let her taste the sweet potatoes, thinking that would put an end to her begging but lo and behold, she loved them. The quest to be a human baby continues.

Meanwhile, we were visiting family in our old hometown. I’ve written about the treat truck before. Well, 6 months later, she has not forgotten. Saturday morning, she was suddenly desperate to go outside. I went out there with her and of course, here came the mail man. He said, “hey, I know that dog” and threw her a treat. She was so proud of that bone. She picked it up and carried it across the yard, tailed curled and touching her back, chest out, ears up, galloping. She buried the bone. Amazingly enough a week and a day later, the day we were leaving but before we had even started packing, Cheyenne ran out to the bush, dug up her treasure and ate it. She not only remembered to go outside and meet the mailman, but also where she had buried the treat 8 days later, and somehow knew when to uncover it.

Also amusing was the night we heard rustling. My husband turned to me and said you realize that she is pulling our clothes out of the suitcase to lay on, right? Well as it turned out, not quite. When I looked to see what she was doing, I saw her standing on top of the suitcase, turning around and around moving the clothes in the suitcase to their optimal postions for her comfort.

Oh and have I mentioned that she pulled the corner of the screen back so she can some and go as she pleases? Seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. She is the epitome of hilarity, this dog.

I decided to just take Jack and Dixie and come back for Cheyenne. I thought it would be fine if she stayed in the yard while we went. Unfortunately, because I was leaving the yard she thought the magic of me was in place and proceeded to walk right through the electric fence. I heard it beep, I told her to stay and she walked through it like nothing. Fantastic. She was so amped that I don’t think she even felt the shock. Then it was as though the world was her oyster and she took off down the street, kicking her back legs out straight behind her like a deer. I was calling her and calling and she did not hear me. I had Dixie on the leash and started running, in my flip flops, no phone. Dixie was not keeping up with me. My running seemed to encourage Cheyenne to run faster. I began flashing back to the last time she ran away. By now I was screaming.  Oh and praying. Because as we’ve established I become quite the believer during times of stress. Against all my better instincts, I stopped running. Inside I was completely panicked. I couldn’t believe all the work I have done with was crumbling.

I stopped to see what would happen. She slowed. I think she was just super-excited to be on a walk and be able to be with Jack. I kept screaming her name and telling her to come. I scooped up Dixie and calmly (ha!) walked towards Cheyenne. Somehow I caught her attention and got her to come to me. I put her on Dixie’s leash and carried Dixie back. And thanked God that Dixie is small enough to carry. I took off Cheyenne’s collar and threw it in the yard. My heart was pounding out of my chest, but at least she came to me.

I have been worried that she would leave the yard but I think that she thinks there is some sort of magic that occurs when I escort her out of the yard and she has not tested it. This whole event has given me reason to pause though.