Grizzly's Books

Excerpts from Oro, The "Tail" Continues

At Captain Rigley's request, Will signs up, along with Oro, for a police K-9 handler/canine training course. Part of the training for the animal side of each team was the Canine Agility Course.

This was, for the most part, a treat for Oro. He enjoyed going through and over culvert pipes, negotiating a series of mazes and dashing around most of the obstacle course. The hardest task he faced was climbing a modified stepladder to a platform about ten feet off the ground.

Oro, being quite long and tall, was having a difficult time and his back legs began to shake. I urged him on, as he began to falter about half way up the narrow steps of the ladder. He was about to loose his balance and opted to jump off the side, where he landed awkwardly on the ground with a resounding "thud".

"Will," he relayed to me with a groan, "I wasn't able to practice this skill at home. Can I give it another shot?"

"That's OK, Boy. Try it again, if you want to, but be careful."

He did and with great determination was able to make it to the platform, but now all four legs seemed to be shaking uncontrollably. I told him to relax before trying to accomplish the next feat, which was crossing over to another platform on a four-inch beam of about twenty feet in length. Oro sat down and regained some of his composure before attempting to cross the beam. I would never forgive myself if he fell off and broke a leg or worse and so I positioned myself under him just in case of an accident.

"Don't look down," I warned him.

He didn't and proceeded slowly with obvious concentration and made it with no further difficulty.

I'm sure he felt better later on, as three other dogs were unable to negotiate the exercise.

Will was hanging around the kitchen, waiting to commence with the morning meal, while Oro was outside playing with Jay Jay, who had come over to visit.

"Will, do you remember what Oro said earlier about him having selective transmissions?"

"Yes, why?"

"Do you have selective hearing?"

"I'm not following you, Doe."

"Last night I asked you to take out the trash."

"Oops, I'm on it, Babe."

"And, the bird feeder is empty."

I jumped up, grabbed the trash, a dipper of bird food, a few dog treats and left through the mudroom. I didn't have to call the dogs, for they charged over and somehow managed to sit patiently in front of me, waiting for the tasty morsels they could smell, but not see.

"OK, here ya' go," I said, as I tossed the biscuits into the pair of drooling mouths. I envisioned myself feeding fish to killer whales at Sea World, for the experience had its similarities.

"Can Jay Jay come in for dessert?"

"Sure, as long as you'll share and let him lick one of the breakfast plates."

"No problem. He can have your plate and I'll take Lea's."

"What difference does it make?"

"Will, you never leave anything on your plate."