The Doggy Corral
Inspired by the Red Dapple Dachshund
By
New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
Copyright © 2016 New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1 – A New Puppy
Chapter 2 – Learning the Hard Way
Chapter 3 – Farm Baby
Chapter 4 – Introductions
Chapter 5 – Badger Dog at Work
Chapter 6 – Beau
Chapter 7 – What’s Wrong with Ma?
Chapter 8 – Catching Up
Chapter 9 – Three Peas in a Pod
Chapter 10 – Under the Rainbow
Foreword
Dachshund is a breed. Dapple is a color pattern, generally with spots, but not always. The red dapple Dachshunds have coats with various shades of red, tan and brown. The patterns can be slight with minimal color variations or they can be more predominant with color variation across their bodies. With red dapple Dachshunds the color variations will decrease with age. The only way to tell a red dapple Dachshund senior is by their blue eyes as they are almost always blue.
The red dapple Dachshund is a beautiful dog with unique coloring. They still have the Dachshund breeding and the Dachshund temperament. Like all Dachshunds they make perfect family pets for families with older children.
This story is the sequel to the previous book, Onyx and Jasper – the Rock Hounds. Pebbles, the red dapple Dachshund, was one of their puppies.
I would like to thank my team for their assistance with my books: Al Rosario, Illustrator; Jan Lawrence, editing; Lucinda Campbell, formatting, Heather Piedmont, marketing and Drew Simenson, reviewing.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit New Mexico Dachshund Rescue and Dachshund rescue in New Mexico. Thank you for supporting our mission.
I dedicate this book to our youngest daughter Marci, our redhead. Although she prefers cats, she still patiently helps us with loving, nurturing and training our Dachshunds.
--Stella Dillenbeck on behalf of New Mexico Dachshund Rescue
(Featuring the Dachshund Rescue Series by Stella Dillenbeck)
Chapter 1 – A New Puppy
The three boys, George, Jimmy and Joey, were so excited. They were picking up their new puppy today. Pa rolled his eyes. He had explained to them several times the puppy was for Ma. They had their German shepherd, Beau, the farm dog. This puppy was going to be an inside dog for Ma. But, as usual, the boys did not hear anything beyond “puppy.” They were getting a puppy!
Ma had wanted a puppy for quite a spell. Her mama arms had been empty since Joey was weaned. When the doctor told her she could not have any more babies, it ‘pert near broke her heart. But Pa was adamant about holding off getting a puppy until the boys were old enough to keep a watchful on eye on it. The boys were old enough now, they insisted. Pa finally relented.
The puppy was a red dapple Dachshund female named Pebbles. She was in a litter of puppies from neighbors down the road. Ma had seen the litter of puppies right after they were born and instantly took a liking to the little red dapple. The neighbors promised Ma she could have her. The boys did not know what a dapple was or what a Dachshund was. But they sure did know what red was and what a puppy was. They were getting a puppy! Ma just shook her head.
When Ma and Pa got word the puppies were weaned, they made an appointment with the neighbors to get Ma’s new puppy. George, Jimmy and Joey fought over who was going to hold Pebbles on the way home, but Ma set her foot down firmly. She was going to hold the puppy and the boys sulked all the way home. Despite three very disappointed boys, they got the message this time; this puppy was Ma’s. The sulking did not do any good either, for Ma was resolute. She held the puppy all the way home and carried her into the house, too.
Pa had put a doggy pen right outside the kitchen door to make it easy for Ma to let Pebbles in and out. Ma put a bed over in the corner by the door for her, where the food and water dish were nearby. Pa also put a gate on the door. That would keep Pebbles in and the boys out. Ma let Pebbles out to the pen and then snuggled with her briefly before bedding her for the night.
Chapter 2 – Learning the Hard Way
George, Jimmy and Joey continued their sulking the next day. They did not like being shut out of the kitchen. They did not understand about Pebbles being a puppy and needing to grow up some. There are all kinds of dangers on the farm and Pebbles would need to slowly be introduced to the farm and the other farm animals. Pa was both strict and safety-conscious. He had never had an accident on his farm and he was not about to have one now.
Pa explained to the boys how his dad had lost part of his right hand when he was cleaning a lawn mower and accidentally hit the “on” switch. He did not know it was plugged in. He said his mom also had been injured when she fell off a combine and the blade caught her right arm. He had seen firsthand how debilitating farm injuries are to farmers, but the boys did not understand – yet.
Pa needed to re-do part of the fence around the cow’s pen. Some of the post boards needed replacing because they had rotted. Pa did not have to dig the holes for the post holes again, so he counted on getting the new fence posts up in record time. George helped Pa dig out the rotten posts. All three boys would help put the new ones in the ground.
The boys were in the process of putting in a new fence post when Pa heard a scream behind him. Joey had tripped and one of his legs went in one of the holes. Pa ran to his side as George and Jimmy anxiously joined them. When Pa gently lifted Joey out of the hole, Jimmy went running for Ma. Joey was crying; his leg was hurting. Pa asked Ma if she would take Joey to the clinic so they could keep working on the fence. The cows were in a temporary pen, so they needed to replace the fence posts quickly.
Joey’s ankle was sprained, not broken. The whole family was relieved about that, but Joey was going to be off his feet a few days. When they got home from the clinic, Ma laid him on the couch before scooting to let Pebbles out. She needed to get going on dinner preparations and had lost precious time taking Joey to the clinic in town.
As Ma was letting Pebbles back in the house she heard Jimmy screech. He had stepped on a board with a nail. Ma sighed. Dinner would be pancakes tonight. She had to make another trip to the clinic. While Ma and Jimmy were gone, Pa managed to get the rest of the fence posts put in the ground and the fence rails back in place thanks to George’s help. It had been a trying day. At least now the boys would understand about accidents on the farm. It sure was a hard way to learn, though.
After the accidents, Pa decided to rope off a corner of the back fence as a designated “play” area for Joey and Jimmy. That way they could be close to Pa and George, but not be in the way or prone to get hurt. It would also give Pa and George more time and elbow room for keeping the work area safe. Joey and Jimmy could come and “help” in-between their play times. Pa hung a little wooden plaque that said “The Doggy Corral.” He reckoned that was a fitting name for the play area and could not wait to show Ma and the boys.
Chapter 3 – Farm Baby
Ma had been personally taking care of all of the farm babies since she was told she could not give birth to more of her own; it helped fill the void. But she had Pebbles now; Pebbles was a handful. Ma and Pa decided it was time for George to care for the farm babies. He was old enough to be responsible for them now and Pa would help if he was needed.
Ma started to carry Pebbles out around the farm yard to slowly introduce her to farm life and the other animals. Their German shepherd, Beau, came over to sniff and check out Pebbles. He did not growl. He accepted her as one of the farm babies. Pebbles wiggled to get down, but Ma held her tight. She was much too little to be out and about yet. Pebbles whine
d and wiggled more. Ma petted her and talked to her, but she was not to be soothed. She wanted down. Ma had a smile on her face when she took Pebbles back to the house. She knew without a doubt Pebbles was going to be a good farm dog.
Pebbles learned to lay still in Ma’s arms when they were making rounds in the farm yard. She caught on quickly that if she squiggled too much Ma would take her back in the house. Instinctively Pebbles knew some day she would have her turn on the ground with the other animals. But the puppy in her still wanted down.
As Pebbles got a little bigger, George, Jimmy and Joey were allowed to hold her for short periods of time. They were very gentle with her. They would scratch her ears, pet her back and rub her tummy. They were learning, too. If they fought over her, it would be a couple of days before they got to hold her again. They learned to share. And the boys would be reminded yet again…that was Ma’s puppy.
Ma slowly shifted puppy responsibility to the boys. Pebbles was getting bigger, plus she enjoyed the attention she got from the boys. Canning season was coming soon. Ma was going to be busy with canning and preparing for the county fair, on top of all of her other household chores. The boys loved doing chores with their Pa on the farm, but balked at doing what they called “sissy chores” in the house. So Ma decided she would count on them to take care of Pebbles. Pebbles did not mind; she soaked it all up. She was one loved pup.
Once responsibility for Pebbles was given to them, it was harder for Pa to get the boys to do their chores. Ma sighed. She did not want Pebbles wasting away the summer in the back pen. They had to sit the boys down to have a talk with them about farm responsibilities and how they all had to share the load. The boys were encouraged to keep their priorities straight and take turns with Pebbles. It helped, for the boys each wanted to be able to have their turn with Pebbles. Ma had made it clear there would be restrictions if the chores were not done.
Chapter 4 – Introductions
Life on the farm was grand. Ma and Pa had quite the farm family and were busting their buttons with pride. They had won many blue and red ribbons at the county fair with their livestock, Ma’s canning, quilts and aprons she had sewed. All of the ribbons were proudly displayed on the dining room wall. They were grateful they had three sons, too. Their sons had been good helpers around the farm, greatly easing Pa’s workload. Ma never got her little girl, but as she looked back now she was kind of glad. Their three sons had been the perfect family for them.
Ma decided it was time to start introducing Pebbles to the other farm animals. The other animals had an idle curiosity about her. They had seen Ma carrying her around, but they had not met nose-to-nose yet. Pebbles got to meet the cows, the sheep, the pigs, the goats and the donkeys. Ma was pleased there were no issues. Like Beau, the other animals accepted Pebbles as one of the farm babies.
That all changed when Ma went to introduce Pebbles to the chickens, ducks and geese. She jumped from Ma’s arms before she could be stopped. Feathers went flying as she went chasing. A swift pinch on her left hip by the bill of one of the male geese put a stop to that and Pebbles was begging to get back in Ma’s arms. The rambunctious Dachshund puppy had met her match.
Pebbles learned her lesson the hard way. She never chased the fowl again. Ma was able to walk Pebbles around the yard without a leash and without carrying her by the time she was 9 months old. Ma was pleased with her puppy. What a good farm dog she was turning out to be. The other animals got used to having her around and began to trust her like they did Beau.
The next morning there was a commotion on the front deck as the family was eating breakfast. Pebbles was at the front window barking and trying to get through the window. There on the deck was a raccoon eating the cat food! Pa had followed Pebbles to the window, and when he saw the raccoon he opened the door and let Pebbles out. The whole family watched in amusement as the raccoon scurried away with Pebbles hot on his trail. Ma ran out and grabbed Pebbles so she would not follow after the raccoon any further. They watched as the raccoon ran across the road and into the brush on the other side.
Later that day Ma needed to run into town. She instructed Pa and the boys to keep Pebbles in the house because she did not want Pebbles crossing the road to go after the raccoon. When Ma came back from town she narrowly missed hitting Pebbles with the car as she approached home. She was crossing the road to go after the raccoon. Ma called her and snatched her up before driving the rest of the way to the house. She was madder than a wet hen. Pa and the boys had never seen her so angry before. Somebody let her puppy out and somebody was going to pay. But nobody would fess up to Ma who had done it. Ma lectured them and silently hoped they learned their lesson and prayed it would not happen again. She was also relieved she had not hit Pebbles. Her heart was still racing from the incident.
Chapter 5 – Badger Dog at Work
There was never a dull moment on the farm. If something was not happening in the farm yard, something was happening in the house. Yes, between the three boys and all the farm animals, Ma’s and Pa’s radar was always on high alert. Ma’s even more so since the raccoon incident. Pebbles was her baby and she was not going to get hurt.
One morning Ma let Pebbles out in the back pen as she had done every morning since the pup had been theirs. Ma shut the door and went about getting breakfast ready. Suddenly she heard Pebbles growling; she had never growled before and Ma was alarmed. But when she saw why, she stopped at the door and stood like a statue. Pebbles had cornered a rattlesnake in the pen. They danced a little dance together before Pebbles pounced. She was on that rattler instantly, grabbing it by the nape of the neck and shaking it to death. The rattler was dead in two shakes. Ma was scared, but relieved.
Pa and the boys could hardly believe it when Ma relayed the rattlesnake story. Ma and Pa would use it as another teaching tool for the boys. Pa cut off the rattler’s tail and gave it to George. They did not get many rattlesnakes, but they were out there and they were poisonous. The whole thing made quite an impression on the boys and they all promised to be alert when making their rounds in the farm yard and barn. With the visual reminder of the rattler’s tail, the parents were confident the boys would be watchful and careful.
The whole family was proud of Pebbles. Ma explained to George, Jimmy and Joey that Dachshund meant badger hound. They were bred to go into the holes after badgers and other den-dwelling creatures. Fierceness was a part of their character. The boys were wowed. They had the most awesome dog around. Ma and Pa heard through the grapevine how the boys were bragging that Pebbles was one cool dog. Ma and Pa smiled. They had one awesome Dachshund and three awesome boys.
Ma and Pa encouraged the boys to not forget about their German shepherd, Beau. He was their dog and still needed attention. George and Jimmy took it to heart and started romping and playing with Beau again. Pa was relieved. He knew Beau was missing the boys because he had been following him around a great deal since they got Pebbles. Joey told Ma he preferred Pebbles. She figured it was because Joey was the youngest and the smallest. Ma did not mind because that freed her up to take care of her household responsibilities. Besides, she was always around if Joey needed help and Pebbles still had her bed in the corner of the kitchen. Ma never tired of watching Pebbles sleep in her bed. It was the sweetest thing.
Chapter 6 – Beau
The boys were growing up. They were maturing and they were learning. Pebbles was also growing, maturing and learning. She was not a puppy any more. She was a full-grown miniature Dachshund now and a farm dog in her own right. And Beau? Well, Beau was getting old. Ma and Pa were both proud of their boys and their dogs, too. Soon they were going to be teaching the boys another lesson in life. It would be a hard, but necessary, lesson.
George, Jimmy and Joey had grown up on the farm. It was the only life they knew. They had watched their own Ma and Pa get older, each other grow older and Beau and Pebbles get older. They had watched so many changes in their young lives, from the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies, and the births o
f colts, calves, piglets and kittens that are newborn each year. When the chicks, goslings and ducklings hatched, the boys were right there, and they had enjoyed the frog’s eggs that changed into tadpoles, exercising their bodies as they transformed into frogs. They had seen the butchering of farm animals for food and even helped as they got older. Since they were born they had watched the circle of life in all of the animals on the farm.
The boys had gone through the death of two of their grandparents. Although everyone was glad the other two were still with them, the boys knew there would be a day when they would be gone, too.
But nothing prepared the boys for the loss of Beau. George found him in the barn. He already knew something was up when Beau did not greet him at the door. George shouted; the rest of the family came running. All three of the boys cried. Then the boys disappeared; they each went to their own room and cried some more. They could not stand it. Beau was gone. No amount of wishing on their part was going to bring Beau back. No amount of comfort by Ma and Pa could take the hurt away – not now anyway. The boys would not even leave their rooms to eat that day. Ma left cups of water on their nightstands. They did sip on those. They also came out of their rooms to use the bathroom. Afterwards they would retreat back to their bedrooms and cry again. Nothing could be said or done to console them. All three boys just needed to grieve, cry and be alone right now. It was best if they be left alone.
Chapter 7 – What’s Wrong with Ma?
Pa buried Beau the next day. He explained to Ma he could not wait any longer in the heat. He carefully put together a plywood box for the dog and laid him in it. Afterwards he dug a hole in the far corner of the property and put Beau to rest. When they were ready he took each of the boys over to say their good-byes to Beau. Tears ran down the boys’ faces; they were unstoppable.
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