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| Puppy Tessie |
There is a little thing that’s round with lines on it,
commonly used in a game with a net across a court, a tennis ball. In our home,
it is known as Tessie’s toy. I think I need to be more accurate, the tennis ball
is Tessie our labradoodle’s obsession!
It started one day with a walk in the park. We saw someone throwing a tennis ball at
their dog and
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| Game-Face |
Since that day, she has a love for those balls that is
beyond comprehension. If other dogs are
out, she ignores them. Her single focus is “the ball.” She is anxiously waiting
for “the throw” and that is her single concern, she could care less about the
other four legged critters in the area.
If another dog attempts to play ball with her, she is what
is known as a ball hog! Yes, she rudely cuts in front of everyone, outruns
dogs, sometimes literally running into them to retrieve the ball. She is hell-bent on a mission and stops at
nothing from capturing it in her mouth. She jumps, squats, flips, dives with
and without grace all to capture that round bouncing ball. She then proudly
runs it back with her prancey dancey gait back to you to throw it again!
If a human being is in the vicinity, they are ignored also.
Their role in her life, when outside and a tennis ball is in view is simply to
throw it. If you are do not she has no
use for you in her life. She runs for the balls until her mouth is drooping,
her tongue is hanging out and she looks like she is on her last leg. We have to
make her stop!
The tennis balls are in the drink cups of our golf cart. If
we take Tessie on a ride in the cart, she picks up a ball and carries it in her
mouth for the entire ride. She looks to the right and to the left checking out
the scenery. She sits up and down admiring the yards but through it all, the
ball is firmly in her mouth and she refuses to lose her grip on it no matter
how long we are riding.
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| Notice the tennis ball on the couch? |
Within our home, because we forget that she has them in our
mouth, she sneaks in with the balls. Thus,
tennis balls have been found in virtually every room in the house. It is nothing to walk into the bathroom and
find a tennis ball in the middle of the floor or see one sitting on the window
sill in the living room as if it was placed there as part of the décor.
She has garnered a reputation as the
Tennis Ball Queen. Those
on our side of our community where we live know her well, and her
passion. Thereby, when they see tennis balls out, as they tell us with laughter in their voices, they know Tessie has
been there. The balls have become her 'calling card'. Yes, even Tessie, from time
to time slips up and leaves a beloved tennis ball behind.
Never have we ever known a dog more obsessed with playing
with a ball. She brings them to you and cries and whines to play. She carries
them in her mouth in the house. So if they ever stop making tennis balls, we
will be in a heap of trouble and have one unhappy dog! And very unhappy owners!
