Wait, Ms. Ez, wait!

  I most likely have done horribly wrong by Ms. Ez, the old Bayou dog.  Ever since she was a wee pup, I would use the single word "Wait" as a command.  She learned patience....lots of patience.  I made her wait until I was down the steps before exiting the house.  I made her wait until I led before getting on the pier.  I made her wait until squirrels were nigh underfoot before she chased them.  I made her wait...a lot.  It is that last one that seems to have struck a chord with her. She still occasionally barrels out of the house or on the pier before me but she can out wait a squirrel by far.  Her patience is amazing when it comes to trying to snag one of those wily critters.  She has a perfect vantage point as she watches them try to raid the bird feeders.  The steps are just high enough to allow her to see over the gate and the jasmine vine is just full enough to conceal her whereabouts.  Once a squirrel is spied hopping up the board path, she quietly slips off the steps and stands just behind the opened gate.  From there, she eyes the squirrel as it comes closer and closer.  Once she figures that the critter is in the position of difficult escape, she makes her move.  She lunges out of the gate and down the board path.  The squirrel will invariably be startled enough that it darts to the first thing available that resembles a tree.  Sometimes this "tree" is the driftwood post that holds the feeders.  If that is chosen, Ms. Ez is in Heaven!  The squirrel is trapped and she bides her time.  After a bit, the squirrel will dart down the side and make a dash for it.  Ms. Ez will be hot on its tail all the way to the first tree in sight.

  There are several trees in the yard that stand far enough from others to make the squirrel be "treed".  Ms. Ez then plops herself down at the base of the tree and waits.  She sits and stares at the squirrel sometimes for hours on end.  The poor squirrel is in a frenzy to escape but all exits are blocked by this big lug of a dog! Finally, the squirrel will panic and race down the tree trunk.  The chase begins again.

  Ms. Ez never really attempts to catch the squirrel and both animals obviously think this is some grand game.  Neither seem to tire of the fun.  About dark, I have to call Ms. Ez to come inside and let the squirrel head back to its nest for the evening.  I believe she would sit there all night if I let her!  Wait, Ez, wait!