The Pictures below are from 2/27/10. There are a bunch of them. I've included all because the sequence is significant.
I'll add some comment at the end of the photo set.
It all began when Lea saw Wiley ("Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My.")
The chase is on.
Successful rout.
Oops, maybe not.
Oh, oh - turnabout.
Back the other way
Another turnaround. Pretty spooky.
Getting pretty close!!
Standoff.
What now?
Maybe there's more going on here than turf issues ...
Careful. Not too close.
Pretty darned close
Ok. A bit of "play posture" emerges.
Notice Wiley's tail - total non-aggression signal.
Ok. Too close. More chasing.
And back.
And the other way again.
Reverse course.
Coming closer again.
Slowing down.
Another standoff.
Fierce?
Maybe not. More play posture, universal among canines.
"Hey dog, wanna play?
Closer yet.
Wow. Really close, but Lea probably weighs twice what Wiley does.
Maybe threatening.
More chase.
End of the run.
And back.
It'll probably be safer closer to the house.
Chase yet again.
This is as far as Lea wants to get from the house. Notice deer watching in background.
Oh, oh. Coming back.
Hurry back to the house.
More play posture.
Ok, is this non-threatening?
How about this?
Wiley rolled over several times.
More rolling.
And more.
"Ok dog. Do I look non-threatening now?"
How about this?
More.
Really!
Just trust me.
"Get a clue dog."
Wiley, "Now can we be friends?" Lea, "Hey, I'm not comfortable with this."
Closer.
And closer.
Come on.
Too close.
Oops. Too far from the house again.
Retreat.
Ok, let's rest.
Stalemate again.
Losing interest.
Curious about my hanging targets.
"I wonder what these are."
Well, that's all. Wiley wandered off. The episode lasted for about 20 minutes. It seemed very much like Wiley just wanted to play. He/she has been hanging around lately. I reckon we'll see more of Wiley.
Because I've heard about coyotes luring dogs away to become a snack for the rest of the pack, I'll supervise any futhure play episodes with a big stick in hand. But, Wiley sure seems like a lonely loner just wanting a friend.
Salmon watched from the deck with typical disinterest.
End