Turtle Love

Here is the turtle our son saved up his money to buy last Spring.

It is a Red Eared Slider and our son enjoys caring for and watching his new turtle in the aquarium in his room.

This is our bird dog Tater ~

BIRD DOG - Used by hunters to lead them to the birds, then point when they find them.

It's not easy being a bird dog in love with a turtle ...

Her master says " Find the birds Tater! "

But her mind is always on the turtle.

The day after we got the turtle, we could not find Tater. We were all outside, a lovely sunny day, working, playing, all of our other dogs were eating their food and running in the yard, but not Tater. Where was she? We called her and called her.

We had seen her the night before intensely watching the new turtle. Could she still be in our son's room? We peered through his bedroom window and there she was, muscles tense, slightly quivering, staring at the turtle. And the turtle, nosed pressed against the glass, was staring back at Tater.

Tater had spent the entire night and all the next day watching her new friend. She did not want to leave to eat or even relieve her bladder.

Tater and the turtle are now buddies. When Tater is inside for the evening, we know where to find her. Follow the whining sounds into our son's room and there she stands - wishing and hoping that there was no glass between her and her friend.

For awhile we tried to keep them apart but Tater would slink behind furniture and sneak her way down the hall to the turtle tank when we weren't looking.

Now her master simply says " Why are you whining? Haven't you visited your buddy today? Okay - go see your buddy. " That sets Tater running off excitedly to the bedroom to gaze into the tank and the turtle leaves the corner of the tank to put it's nose against the glass side and gaze back at Tater. Which leaves us with only one question ....

Anyone up for turtle tracking? Give our bird dog a call!