That quote came from DD after a particularly bruising experience with Daisy this weekend. 😦
I'm sorry, DD. I just wanted to play with the bird.
Yesterday DD took Daisy out back for her morning run. As usual, Daisy spotted a bird on the ground and gave chase. No biggie there.
BUT – as they got close to the bird at top speed, the bird didn’t fly away. Its wing was broken, and it just stood there, probably terrorized. DD tried to stop Daisy but the grass was wet and slippery from an early morning thunderstorm. And Daisy, although small, is VERY strong – this pup’s ALL muscle.
Well, Daisy kept pulling and DD tried to stop running and the next thing she knew – BAM! – she had slipped on the wet grass and hit the ground on her hip. “Felled like a tree.” By a 15 pound Havachon. Who’d have thought it possible??
But that’s not the worst of it. Daisy spun around and kept pulling with all her might – and she backed right out of her harness! She immediately charged the poor crippled bird and was on it before DD could scramble to her feet. All I heard from inside the house was “NO! DAISY NO! NO!”
I looked out the window and saw DD standing over Daisy, trying to pick her up and having a hard time with her. I saw Daisy pawing wildly at something on the ground – I figured it was a rabbit nest, but it was the injured bird.
Finally DD got Daisy into her arms and came panting back to the house, dragging the limp leash and harness behind her.
They were a mess. Soaking wet and covered in wet grass clippings; Daisy’s white paws were green. Poor DD was so upset about the bird and the fact that Daisy had escaped from the harness!
Psst - don't tell Mommy, but I really enjoyed catching that bird!
I’m happy to report that the bird was okay. We saw him a little later walking around by the fence; I hope he was able to make it to safety somewhere.
We discovered that Daisy had slipped her harness because it was just a little too loose around her body, and when she yanked backward, it slipped over her front leg shoulders and set her free. Thank goodness we weren’t on a busy main street somewhere! And we were lucky that the bird had her attention, otherwise she’d have been almost impossible to catch if she’d raced around our big yard. Plus she could have escaped in one of the areas where the soil has eroded under the fence, giving a small dog like Daisy enough clearance to army-crawl under it!
Lesson learned. We were so concerned about Daisy’s comfort in the harness that we didn’t realize we’d loosened it too much. Now it’s fitting snugly again and we tested it on her to make sure she can’t escape.
We’re still a bit jittery from the experience, though. Especially DD, who’s nursing a big bruise on her hip – but that pain is nothing compared to the painful thought of possibly losing her Daisy!
Everyday Adventures in Havachon Heaven 
Wow that was some incident. I hope your daughter is feeling better. It’s good to hear that both Daisy and the bird made it out of the incident unharmed. I love the expression on Daisy’s face in the last photo. So cute:)
Fortunately her bruise is high enough that it can’t be seen when she wears a dress to work! Daisy’s fine – she’s the only one who wasn’t traumatized LOL!
That dog is dynamite!
Indeed she is! Lots of explosives tucked into that tiny frame of hers! 😉
Wow Daisy,
It sounds like everyone had a lucky escape: DD didn’t get a broken hip, the Bird survived (phew!) and you didn’t escape out of the garden!!
Instinct is a tough thing to overcome Daisy, I get it! Mum’s trying to teach me not to chase bikes that come past us when we’re out, a couple of times I think I’ve nearly yanked Mum’s arm out of the socket as one has whooshed past us – I’m a sheep herder Mum, I’m supposed to give chase! We’re getting there……
Wags to you,
You’re pal Snoopy 🙂
Little by little we’re learning, right Snoopy? And we’re teaching our families more about us too….though sometimes I like to surprise my family with behavior that comes out of left field! Gotta keep them a little off-balance…. 😉
Oh dear, I hope DD doesn’t have too much trouble with her hip, hopefully it’s just bruised and nothing worse. I could imagine the scene as I was reading it, Daisy pulling on the harness, DD sprawled on the grass!
Gotta watch that Daisy, she’s a clever one getting out of her harness, but glad she didn’t injure the bird; I hope it survived. Tighten up that harness a little!
DD is lucky to have youth on her side! Yes, Daisy is one determined Havachon when she’s zeroed in on something, be it a toy or an injured bird! Her harness is now quite snug – we learned that lesson FAST! 🙂
Daisy is such a little spitfire. I’m glad both DD and the bird are okay and that you discovered the loose harness now, rather than at a more dangerous time.
Absolutely! When we thought of the scary possibilities, we were very grateful that this happened the way it did!
Ugghh…what a scare! I’m so glad to read that everyone was okay. DD, Daisy and the little bird.
Gus used to slip out of his collar, which was one of the reasons we started using a harness when he was a puppy. Your post reminds me to check to make sure it’s a snug fit!
I guess there’s nothing our little escape artists can’t do if given the chance! We’ll be very vigilant from now on, checking that harness before every trip outdoors.
This is something I would have never anticipated with a 15-pound Daisy! I’m so glad both Daisy and the bird came out of the situation unscathed and DD only has to nurse a bruise and nothing more serious.
You and me both, Pauline!
Oh boy, there’s never a dull moment with Daisy! Sounds like you all had quite the scare with the bird, the fall, and the escapee. Whew, I had to catch my breath a few times while reading your post. Although I’m sure it wasn’t funny at the time, I think the next time you revisit memories of this incident it’ll make for a good laugh 😉
Oh definitely! And considering Daisy’s personality, I’m sure by the time she’s a few years old, we’ll have a stack of those horror-turned-comedy stories!