A blog post by Josiah, the leaf-crunching, rodent-chasing Yorkie puppy
Chasing Colorful Leaves
I was running outside when a leaf dropped right in front of me. The wind picked it up and carried it down the hill. Wait! I wanted to play with that leaf.
As I started chasing it, another leaf fell. Then another. The wind started swirling leaves all around me. What was happening?
I couldn’t decide which leaf to run after, so I just jumped in the middle of them. And I caught one. I carried it in my mouth back up the hill, so proud of my catch.
Miss Janet said every year, the trees drop their leaves. Then they grow new ones. The leaves on the trees are green, but when they drop them, they are brown, orange, yellow, or red. That’s amazing.
Miss Janet picked up a really pretty leaf and gave it to me. It was very colorful. I took a bite. It didn’t taste very good, but it was pretty to look at. The brown leaves aren’t as pretty, but they are really crunchy. I like the way they feel under my feet.
A Rodent in the Trees
As we were out walking in the leaves, I smelled something. It was a rodent. Yorkies are known for our rodent-tracking ability, so I knew that smell. I’d never actually seen a rodent. I’m just an 18-week-old puppy. But I knew exactly what I smelled. I’m a born and bred rodent tracker.
I stopped and looked around the backyard trees. I couldn’t see the rodent, but he was there. I growled to let him know I was onto him. Then I saw him. He was a big, gray rodent with a super fluffy tail. It looked like he shook out his tail every day to make it poofy.
I growled again and started to chase after him. I was wearing my harness and leash, so I couldn’t catch him. But I let him know I was not afraid to chase him. He needs to know he has crossed into Yorkie territory.
Miss Janet told me this kind of rodent is called a squirrel. He eats the little acorns I’m not allowed to eat—they’re not safe for dogs, but apparently they are safe for rodent-squirrels.
As I chased the rodent-squirrel, he ran up a tree. I sat at the base of the tree, waiting for him to come down. Next thing I knew, leaves started falling all around me. I saw them swirling down from one tree to the next, all across the yard.
Miss Janet pointed up and showed me what was happening. That sneaky old rodent-squirrel was escaping by jumping from tree to tree. Every time he jumped, he knocked down more leaves. Soon he was out of sight. All that was left were the leaves.
I jumped on the leaves and growled. I picked up a leaf in my mouth and shook it. If I couldn’t catch the rodent-squirrel, I could catch a rodent-smelling leaf. Maybe he was watching and could see what a tough Yorkie I am. I bet he won’t mess with me again.
There are still a lot of leaves on the trees. Miss Janet said eventually, all the leaves will drop. Wow, that’s a lot of leaves to fall down. I can’t imagine I’ll be able to find the grass underneath them. But I’ll have fun jumping on them and feeling how they crunch under my feet.
When the leaves all fall down, I’ll be able to see those rodent-squirrels in the trees. They better stay up there where they’re safe. Because this ground is patrolled by a rodent-sniffing Yorkie pup.
Do you like looking at pretty leaves and crunching them under your feet? I hope you have fun chasing them like I do. If you see a rodent-squirrel, tell him he better stay away from my yard.
Wags and wiggles,
Josiah
The Inquisitive Yorkie 