Unwelcome Nighttime Intruders

Usually nights around home are pretty quiet, too quiet sometimes, okay, boring even....  Every once in a while something happens to upset that pattern.  DH and I were watching TV.  Normally that means that at least two of the Traveling Longdogs are on my lap, sometimes all three.  Gretchen has been spending a lot of the evenings since our last trip outside keeping an eye on her yard.  Even the boys have been out.  Of course, that could be because the days have been in the 100's for quite some time now.

It was getting later, about 10:30PM.  And then this horrible racket started.  First I thought it was the neighbors dogs behind us going crazy.  That occasionally happens but not enough to drive us nuts.  Oh, no!  It was my dogs making the racket!   How embarrassing!  I realized that all three of them were outside so I flew out and called them.  Nothing.....   Called them again....  I could see them down at the back of the yard along the fence by the bushes.  Called again....  Finally, I saw Willy take a few steps towards me before he turned around.   Knowing there was no way I could corral all three of them, I headed back in the house for the "Treat Jar".  Okay, I know, blatant bribery.   I stood on the patio and shook it.  Shook it again harder while calling them.  Finally, Willy headed toward me then Harley succumbed to the lure of the treats.  They followed me into the house and I quickly shut the inside door so they couldn't escape back through the doggy door.   Want to see what was causing all the commotion?

That just left Gretchen.  She  is a determined yard protector but she usually doesn't bark that much.  She just stands guard to make sure nothing is going on that shouldn't be going on.  She didn't know what to make of this intruder.  I mean, the squirrels run.  It's a game with them.  She is very careful not to catch them.  But this guy just sat there.  Dave finally went down and got her.

I sure hope this little guy picks someone else's fence to hang out on.