Tonight while tossing the ball to Maggi, I tossed it out on the street. The ball hit the far curb and bounced back just as Maggi put her head down to get it. She missed the ball but hit her head into the concrete curb at full speed. All we heard was a sickening loud crack as her head hit the concrete. I thought she was dead for a second.
She shook her head, grabbed her tennis ball and came right back. I tried to see if she was okay and she tossed her tennis ball at me (she is the only dog that I know that can accurately toss a ball) and was quite adamant that we continue playing. The only thing changed was that she slowed down her approach to the tennis ball. Obviously not having a brain does have some advantages.
This isn’t the first time that she has gone after a ball or Frisbee at her own peril. On our first walk years ago she leaped over a merry-go-round to get her Frisbee. She also jumped over Lee’s Chrysler Sebring to get a stick. She has also gone into the fence occasionally to get a Frisbee. Each time she has gone over the obstruction or braced as she went to get it. Today was totally out of control and she never let up a bit. She is one tough dog.
Our ball-crazy golden retriever once ran full tilt into a soccer post. he dropped like a sack of potatoes as the post rang out what we thought was his death toll. then he jumped up, rand after the ball and brought it right back to us, tail wagging all the time.
Our neighbor had a dog that went through his fence to get a frisbee. Broken boards everywhere. The dog not only got the frisbee but also went back and got some of the boards as well.
My old neighbor bought a “dog” from an ad in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Well, one quarter dog, three quarters wolf. 180 pounds total, 240 horsepower, 300 pounds-feet of torque. Every time I would barbecue, I would toss him the bones. It got to the point when the gas grill went “whumpf” at startup, he was at the fence. Like any dog, he occasionally got out and I would call him and bring him back. One Sunday night, I was filling the trash barrel and here came my cat, with the dog right behind. The cat made a 90 degree left, then a 90 degree up a tree. But the dog only made it halfway through the first turn, and lost traction, sliding into my trash barrel, scattering litter, dog, and barrel all over the driveway. What a racket, everyone thought a car crashed into my house. I laughed my but off, while I picked up all the litter!
You need to rename Maggi – she is definitely a Raider. None of those wimpy Bronco names.
Sounds like my Dog Dakota – she is also a ball fiend and goes through anything to get her ball – usually it results in her running full tilt at the ball, running past it, turning 180 on the spot and wiping out in a big circle…only to get up instantly, grab the ball, and trot back to me.
She also does a kind-of toss of the ball sometimes, flicking her head upwards while letting go of the ball – usually landing in my hands.
Your story had me laughing Jordon – though for a second I thought the outcome was going to be much worse given the post title!
[...] morning my boss one-upped my story about Maggi. A relative’s dog ran out onto a highway in Newfoundland and was hit by both a car and a [...]
Mike O,
You opened a can of worms… Raider names for dogs.
Jay Schroeder: Came with a lot of hype but spends most of his time sitting on a bench.
Jeff George: Never got along that great with any of the other dogs.
Al Davis: Dressed up in a pant suit and only cared about how fast a dog could run.
Bo Jackson: Wonderful dog with hip problems.
John Madden: One of the greatest dogs of all time, he just can’t fly.
Mervin Fernandez: Really fast Canadian dog that disappointed when he is south of the border.