We live out in the country, our house almost surrounded by trees. Many wild animals have passed by our windows and continue to do so. However, squirrels found that coming right up onto our deck provided the chance to find crumbs and not fight other animals for them. I must admit that sometimes I helped with a peanut or two.
Gracie, my first golden, was driven practically crazy as she stood at the window and watched the squirrels come and go on the deck. She was much younger then, and very spry. She still has a strong hunting urge, but years ago she could do something about it. So Gracie and I started what was a fun game for her, but not for the squirrels. Once I put a few nuts on the deck, she and I would watch quietly for the squirrels. When one showed up, I would very quietly open the side door just wide enough for Gracie to slip through. Then she'd run full tilt after that squirrel! Luckily, because there are lots of trees, the squirrels always found a safe haven rather quickly. Gracie often got quite close, but, as they say, "no cigar", or no squirrel. Gracie would stop at the tree, circle it a few times, watch to see if the squirrel would come back down, and then proudly return to the house and back to watching through the window. We certainly didn't do this every day, and I do like squirrels; it added just a bit of excitement to Gracie's golden retriever dreams. I like to think that the squirrels enjoyed an adrenalin rush, too. They kept coming back!
Gracie doesn't chase squirrels any more. Sometimes she doesn't even glance at them. But I know she still dreams of those good old days, when she would give those squirrels a run for the money.
(Now the squirrels look for food inside our cars!)
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