Why Do Dogs Climb Trees?

What a concept.  A dog that climbs a tree.  If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed.  But I'm getting ahead of the story.

I have a beautiful backyard, trees, grass, lilac bushes and lots of space to run around.  It is a very enjoyable place for human and furry friends to relax in. 

Last May, on Mothers Day, my family gave me a gorgeous big birdhouse that I put on a pole in my backyard.  All summer I waited for some bird family to move in and stake their claim on my birdhouse.  No such luck. Then I figured out what I was doing wrong.  You have to provide an incentive for the birds to come into your yard and eventually move into a new birdhouse. 

This idea sounded great.  I got a small bird feeder and filled it with a wild bird seed mix.  I waited and waited.  Finally yesterday I saw some cute little finches up on the birdhouse. Then they flew down to eat the bird seed from the feeder.  I was ECSTATIC.  But unbeknownest to me the trouble was just beginning.

It started out softly yesterday afternoon, with a small yip and yap.  "Darn squirrels,"  I thought, "getting the dogs all riled up again."  I ignored them.  The barking kept getting louder and more frantic, and I noticed that it wasn't coming from the fence but right next to the house down by my hugh lilac bush.  I went out to see what the commotion was all about.  Here were two of my crazy dogs frantically barking at the lilac bush.  I thought I would have to call the vet....they were barking at nothing.  But wait, the branch moved, and out popped a little cute grey finch.  Oh, how sweet I thought.  A dear little finch.  I told the dogs to shut up...but they kept barking.  I told them the finch was gone.  But they kept barking and circling the tree.....here is where the story takes on a whole new slant. 

Smokey, our female corgy mix, decided that enough was enough, went to the bottom of the lilac bush and launched herself up and started to climb up the tree.  I was AGHAST and ran over and pulled her out of the bush.  At that point in time, the bush exploded and millions (well it seemed like millions, but probably was only 50 or 60) tiny, frantic finches burst out and flew to the surrounding trees.  This caused mass confusion.  The dogs (all  four of them) ran from tree, to tree, to fence, to bush, yapping, howling and barking at the top of their lungs.  I don't know what the neighbors thought, but I turned around, walked quickly up my ramp onto my deck and hustled into my house, closing the door behind me.  I don't know about you.  But if anyone asks what was going on.....I am going to say that I was taking a nap and didn't hear a thing.

So, dogs can climb trees.....believe it or not.
  
Until next time read a book, make love and eat lots of chocolate.