PIPER THE PUP'S PAGE!!!
This
page created 11/06/2013 Updated: 4/14/2022
I created this page so that folks from Piper's previous home can see how she's doing.
So far...she's doing ok. Everything on this page-- including drawings,photos, video clips,text ©2013-2022 Richard Dashnau
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On
November 2nd, 2021, Piper has been with me for 8 years. I
hope the images and video clips on this will show the people that
fostered
Piper, and allowed me to adopt her (and they got her from BARC) that Piper is happy and healthy. I know they were sincerely concerned for her well-being.
I cannot believe that someone turned this wonderful dog in to BARC in the first place, but it all turned out well. She's with me, now.
04/14/2021 While walking Piper this morning, another Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) ran across the road in front of us. It crossed 2 lanes, a median, and 2 more lanes before
crossing the sidewalk on our side of the street. Then
it took cover behind a hedge and moved toward us. It either heard
Piper's tags, or me telling her to behave (though I tried to
be
quiet)
or smelled us--but it tried to get through the wall near us. It
had to pass us, and then moved away. I thought that was the end
of it. A car passing on the other side of the
street made a U-turn and came to
talk to me. We'd started talking about the armadillo when I noticed
that it was crossing the road again! I uttered an expletive (sorry
to the driver
for that) and looked further down the street. The
streetlight down there had just turned green, and it looked like at
least 5 cars were heading our way--and they drive fast on this
street.
I decided to run after the armadillo and chase it across
the other lane before the cars got there. So I did. I had my phone out and
have shot video of the armadillo near the hedge, but
I didn't film my chase.
I had to keep track of oncoming traffic, my location, Piper on
her leash, and the armadillo--so adding "manipulating phone to shoot
video" to my list of tasks was
not a good idea. We all crossed
safely, and I crossed back and continued home. I hope the armadillo remained safe.
The images below are frames from the video clip,
which can be seen here.
03/06/2021(sunrise) I was taking my dog Piper for our 2-mile walk at sunrise. I was surprised when a herd of Peafowl (Peacocks(males) and Peahens(females)) appeared on one of the
side streets. (I'm
going with "herd" instead of "flock" because they weren't flying. If
that's not correct...oh, well.) And, actually, a group of Peacocks
(Peafowl) is known as an "ostentation".
That would be appropriate as
this group strutted out. I held Piper back, and stopped to
watch the procession. I thought that they just pass by. They did
not. They walked towards us!
They're watching us. They passed by like a parade! Then they watched Piper and I like we were a parade. Piper was amazed.
NOW what should I do? I figured that a group of birds would approach a human and a dog either to challenge them (maybe a fiesty dominent male); or because they thought I had food.
I
watched for signs of aggression, and when I didn't see any, I spoke
softly to the birds (after a quiet command to Piper to stay)--so they'd
recognize me as a human. I didn't want to
upset them for many
reasons. I didn't want to trigger any agression...but I also didn't
want them to run into the main road behind me. The group (I'm not
going to type "ostentation"
repeatedly. Maybe I'll go with
"muster"). finally did start poking around the plants, so I continued
past them. When I got to the next curb I stopped to watch them
again--and they
started following me. This would have
been unfortunate. I had no idea where the birds belonged, so I couldn't
walk them home. I didn't want them to follow me down the main road,
either.
I spoke to them again, and told them I didn't have any
"peacock food" (HA HA HA). Then I stood still again. The birds
finally lost interest, and wandered back towards their street.
I
think there were two kinds of Peafowl here. I think there were
Blue ("Indian" (Pavo cristatus)) and Green ("Java"(Pavo muticus))
with me this morning. By searching the internet, I
found
that both species of Peafowl are in the same family as Pheasants
(Phasianadae). When at home in their usual habitat, both species
are generalist omnivores, and will eat fruits, seeds,
insects, small
reptiles, plants--or apparently anything that they can find or catch. I
also read that those that have been made pets (as my visitors must have
been) will eat various varieties
of pet food. n I continued my walk with Piper. It
was an interesting change to our usually quiet walk. I took a few
photos and short video clips--holding the phone while walking a
dog
is unnecessary distraction. The video(mp4) is at this link.
Oh, great. Now they're following us. I just wanted them off the road. Piper and the birds eyeballing each other. The Peafowl finally understood I had no food.
09/29/2020 While
working at the computer, I turned around and saw Piper. She was staring
at the ball with such yearning, I had to stop what I was doing to play
with
her right then. I usually play with her anyway; but I couldn't
resist that look. I decided to film her reaction to me giving
in. The video is here.
08/23/2020 One
day I was looking in the fridge, when I noticed Piper peeking through
the gap in the hinge. She was sneaking a peek to see what I was
looking
for--instead of just coming over next to me and looking in with me.
This is probably because I don't ask her to get out from back
there, like I
do when I want to close the door. I decided to try to
catch it camera so I could see what she does. It was cuter than I
imagined. The video is here.
08/18/2020 If
Piper had her way, I'd be tossing the ball for her every hour. If I'm
working at my desktop, she'll sometimes come by and ask for attention.
This
is just one of those times...I actually get this look pretty often. Who
could refuse a request from this face? I couldn't this time, and video is here.
05/15/2020 While
walking with Piper this morning, I noticed an armadillo walking towards
me about 50 yards away. I got out my cellphone and started shooting
video. I was surprised to
find that there were actually TWO
armadillos. Piper and I watched as they moved towards us. Then, one of
them turned and moved towards Piper! I'm sure this was coincidental,
since I
believe that the armadillos didn't know we were there. I
tried to keep the leash tight as the armadillo moved a bit closer. I
don't know if Piper or the armadillo moved first, but in any case
it turned an ran. After a brief pause, the other one followed. The video is here. Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are described as generally "crepuscular and nocturnal" while feeding
(
The Armadillo:Its Relation to Agriculture and Game, 1944, E.R.
Kalmbach; page 15), though they can be oberved through the day. In
fact, I've got examples of that on my pages here.
Today's observation was at 6:40 AM, with high humidity and heavy cloud cover.
05/02/2019 On 5/2/19 I was walking with Piper along one of our streets when I noticed that there were "excavations" in some of the
cultivated
areas in some of the yards along the street. I wonded a bit about them,
since it was pretty intensive in some spots--was it Feral Hogs? --was
it
Armadillos? On our way back, I had an answer. A group of
armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were foraging in the leaves.
Armadillos don't see very
well, and with the roadnoise covering
any sounds Piper or I were making, we didn't disturb them. I
stopped Piper andwe watched the Armadillos...and they
continued
getting closer to us. I had to hold on to Pipers leash and pull her
back a bit. Piper was very interested, and it appeared that she
didn't know what
these creatures were. I bet that she's smelled
traces of armadillos all along-but she'd never met one. I don't
normally handle my phone while I'm walking
Piper (walking your dog
requires all your attention) but I had to catch some of this. So, I
shot some video. The images below are from this video clip. I
stopped filming to put the phone away so I could maintain full control of Piper. And...we left the armadillos alone.
09/30/2017 Piper
likes to figure things out, so sometimes I give her a puzzle.
This was relatively easy, but it's still fun. Pic below,
framegrab from this video clip.
12/07/2016 Piper
has decided that a toy helicopter should be investigated, so, here she is while one is flying around. Click here to see
the resulting video (wmv format); made from a couple clips
edited together. The image below left is a frame-grab from the video,
showing her staring down the
helicopter. Note that Piper
approaches the toy...I'm not chasing her with it. Also, when I do move it towards Piper, I fly it slowly towards her and away from her.
I didn't want to threaten her, and I didn't want her to chase it like prey and knock it down.
09/23/2016 Piper
has decided that even if I'm lying down stretching my back, I should be
able to toss her a ball. So she rolls the ball on the end table so I
can reach
it. I grab it, and toss it. Piper sometimes gets
acrobatic (aerobatic?) when she goes for the ball. So, I decided to
shoot some high-speed video of her in the air. The
image above right is
a frame-grab from one of the clips. Click here to see the resulting video (wmv format).; made from a number of tosses edited together.
03/26/2016 Piper
makes up new games, and new ways to communicate with me. If nudging the
ball with her nose doesn't get my attention, Piper would try standing
on my chest, or pushing the ball in my face. Somehow, she's decided
to try to pull one of the coverings off my "couch" as an alternative
way to get my attention. She's
quite insistant. In the video, I am
looking away from her, but pointing the camera at her. When I ignore
her, and don't see her push the ball, she starts pulling on the
covering. Usually she stops when I turn to look at her, and starts when
I look away. Image is below left. Click here to see the video (wmv format).
03/19/2016 and 03/26/2016 Piper at the dog park again, over 2 years since she's been my dog. (image above right)
Click here to see the video (wmv format).
07/28/2015 Piper
sometimes naps, as dogs do, while I'm doing things at home. But when
she wakes up, she comes over to see me. She seems so happy that I'm
there.
This clip show one of those times, but this time I met
her halfway. She likes to sleep under that table, and scoots out on her
belly.
Click here to see the video (wmv format).
07/01/2015 Well...it's
been a while since I've done any updates here! But, Piper is
still fine, and she's been great. So, here's a short video clip
showing
a minute and a half (that should be 90 seconds worth) of
Piper and I wrestling over a tennis ball(image from the video above right). I think she lies on me to
stop me from escaping with the ball. Click here to see the video (wmv format).
10/19/2014 (Image Below, Left) Another day at Danny Jackson. Piper ran, and I filmed her at 210 frames per second. The link to the video is here: wmv format
10/04/2014 (Image Below, Left) I was on the inversion rack, when Piper decided to help. The link to the video is here: wmv format
(Image Below, Right) Earlier in the day, Piper ran at the dog park, and I filmed her at 210 frames per second. I love watching her run!
The image is a framegrab from the video. The link to the video is here: mp4 format
09/27/2014 (Image Below, Left) Image from a video clip showing some quiet time with Piper. Video clip is here: wmv format
(Image Below, Middle) Piper waiting for a ball. Look at that smile!
09/21/2014 (Image Above, Right) Piper chasing and catching a ball, inside, filmed at 120fps. wmv format
08/02/2014 (Image Below, Left) Piper running by at Danny Jackson Bark Park, filmed at 120fps. wmv format
07/28/2014 (Image Above, Right) When
I do something Piper likes, she quickly shows she's happy about it.
When Piper is ready to go outside, and I get the harness--she gets
really happy.
And, she helps me put it on--sort of. Here's a short clip
showing the current Harness Ritual. wmv format
07/02/2014 (Image Below, Left) Since some people are still checking up on Piper, here's a short clip of Piper and
I at home. She really can be a sweet dog, and she wouldn't be doing these things if she weren't comfortable with me.
I don't think she is considering stealing my nose. The clip is here: wmv format
06/20/2014 (Image Above, Right) I had to leave town for business. I had to board Piper while I was gone. I felt bad about this,
since
I'm the fourth person (or set of people) that has kept her. I was
concerned that Piper would feel like she was changing homes again.
So,
I picked her up as soon as I could, and I worried that she would be
nervous or uncomfortable when I brought her home. But, she was fine;
and very happy to be home. This is a picture of her relaxing on the next evening. She looks happy to me.
06/07/2014 (Image Below, Left) Today, I shot High-Speed Video of Piper at Danny Jackson Bark Park. This time, I shot at 210 Frames per Second, which
I haven't done in a while. Video here. ( wmv format 15.6mb
06/05/2014 (Image Above, Right) More High-Speed Video of Piper chasing the ball inside. This time, I wanted to experiment with 210 Frames per Second, so I had
to adjust the lighting. Video here. ( wmv format 18.6mb
04/27/2014 (Below, Left)
Piper really likes to chase her ball--when we are home. In fact,
she can get quite insistant about playtime-dropping the ball in my
shoe...
...while
I'm trying to put the shoe on; for instance. At the dog park, she
only chases other dogs. Piper has gotten quite adept at snatching
the ball out of the air.
I don't have the camera on her then, but
I tried for a few video clips shot at 120 frames per second for
these. Video here. ( wmv format 9.2mb
Out for a walk 06/04/14
03/03/2014 (Above, Right)
Piper and I are in a new home. She was a complete angel during the
move. Here, we've been in the new place for a few days. She
already acts like she's home. I took time out from unpacking to play ball with her. Video here. wmv format 3.9mb
01/24/2014 (Below, Left) There are always socks that lose their partners. Piper does this with them. Video here. wmv format 8.7mb
01/21/2014 (Above, Right) Piper on the stairs watching me sound like a doofus. Video here. (wmv format 3.4mb
01/18/2014 (Below, Left) Piper in a mellower mood. Video here. wmv format 7.2mb
12/25/2013 (Above, Right)A Christmas message with Piper! Well, sort of.... Video here. ( wmv format 3.8mb
12/24/2013 Piper enjoying her chest scratch. (below left)
12/14/2013 Just a shot of Piper with a ball. (above right)
12/03/2013 And, a short clip of Piper inaction. (below left) The video clips are here :( wmv format 4.7mb )
A video clip of Piper chasing a ball--shot in slow motion with my phone. (below right) The video clips are here :( wmv format 3.3mb )
11/29/2013 I've
been bringing Piper to the dog park as often as I can. With the extra
time off for the holiday, and pretty nice weather, I've been able to
bring her for the last few days. Piper
LOVES to run, but she mostly
likes to run with other dogs. She doesn't seem to mind if she chases them, or if they chase her--as
long as she's running. The last few times we've gone have
been great.
She's found larger dogs to chase, or to run with. Today, I got some
pretty good video clips of Piper running, filmed at 120 frames per
second, and 240 frames per second
(with a Canon SX260 "pocket" camera).
I've put them into a 5-minute video clip. The image below left is a
frame grab from one of the video clips.
The video clips are here :( wmv format 42.2mb )
11/27/2013 Piper
is still settling in, but is still quite a puppy. Sometimes she'll join
me on the couch while I relax...and sometimes she relaxes too--for
about 2 minutes. The image
below left is a frame
grab from a video clip that illustrates this: ( wmv format 11.4mb ) I'm uploading this on Thanksgiving...and I'm lucky that I've have Piper today.
11/18/2013 One
of the best things about having a dog is the daily greeting at the end
of the workday. Piper spends the day in a calm manner (at least she's
calm when I check on her), but when I get
home she's happy to see me.
And...the feelings are mutual. Here's an example of the evening
greeting. It's a little defused because I had to pause a bit to set up
the camera. The image above right
is a frame grab from one of the clips in this edited video: ( wmv format 10.2mb )
11/16/2013 Saturday
morning, and Piper brought one of her toy ropes to me while I was
moving some things around. Time for a puppy break! So, here is a short
clip of a short game of fetch\pull the
rope.The image
below left is a frame grab from one of the clips in this edited video: ( wmv format 8.7mb )
11/07/2013 Piper
and I are learning how to communicate with each other, and how we fit
together. While exploring under the furniture, Piper found a tennis
ball. She brought it to me, and obviously
wanted me to toss it. So, she
not only understands the game of "fetch the ball", but she asks me to
play it with her. She came to my house with a toy duck of her own, and
she would toss that around, and
sometimes chase it if I threw it. But
she likes a short game of "fetch the ball" now and then. The image
above right is a frame grab from one of the clips in this edited video:
( wmv format 12.2mb )
11/03/2013 So,
The next worry was how Piper would be on her first night in a new
place. At about 5am this morning, Piper woke me up with gentle licks on
my face and nose. We immediately went out,
and she did her business.
And then I came in and went back to bed, and so did she.
Then,
on the other end of the day, after I did my usual items away from home
(and Piper behaved herself--not getting into ANY trouble); we went to
the dog park. The three images below are framegrabs
from some video
clips that I shot. I've edited them together into a single file which
can be seen here: ( wmv format 15.7mb )
11/02/2013
I had lost my dog to cancer, and I knew that although I was very sad, I was looking forward to the time when I would meet my new
friend-and our joy when we would find each other. So...I
started
looking, with the understanding that years could pass before the right
dog appeared. I hoped it wouldn't be long. Then, on Craigslist, I saw
an ad placed by a couple who loved their dog, but could
not keep it.
They wanted a good home for their pet. I wanted to make a good home for
a good pet. So...we talked. And, eventually everything worked out
and....well, I have a new dog, and her name is
Piper. So, when Piper
changed hands from her old owners' to mine, I wanted to attend a
special event at Brazos Bend State Park. I didn't want to leave
Piper alone in her new house...we needed to spend
time together. So, I
drove out to the park with her. When we got there, David, one of the
rangers saw me with her. My friends all had known how
losing Buddha the pup had affecte me. David was taking
pictures of the
special event, and he was kind enough to take a picture of Piper and
me. And so, this is the very first clear picture of Piper and I
together. Piper was just about as perfect as she could be
during the ride both ways and while we stood among the 800 or so folks
at the event.
We
eventually made it home, and first shot this picture (middle
picture). If I hadn't already fallen for the little pup...THAT
look would have done for me. But Piper had already won me over, anyway.
Then
I filmed a little introduction to Piper, and how she acted on her first
evening home. The image above right is a frame grab from this video. (wmv format 6.1mb)
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