Fetch!

[Mikhail Thatcher]

"Let's go!" Mick cheered as he picked up Basco's leash and smiled as the Mutt danced from one side to the other, his teddy held firmly in his jaw. "You're going to need to stay still." He laughed. "Sit." He clipped the leash onto the collar. "Ted's going to need to stay here." His eyebrows shot up at the pitiful look the dog gave him and he shook his head as he felt himself cave. "I can look after Ted wile you chase the disk."

It didn't take them long to get to the field, and he released the dog; not at all surprised when the Shepherd cross remained at his side, and with a smile he flicked the Frisbee he was holding into the air so that he could catch it again, instantly the canine's attention was on him and what he was holding. "Three, two, one... fetch!" He threw the disk and scooped the teddy up off the ground as the dog took off after the disk, leaping into the air and catching the toy before landing on the ground. "You bringing it back?" He asked as he tucked the teddy into his back pocket, and laughed as the dog dropped to the ground where he was.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina had finished mucking out Rolo and Vaxi's stalls, and decided it was time for Derecho to have some playtime. They had gone on a trail ride the day before, so today she left the horses behind and headed for the field, planning on tossing the dog's tennis ball for him. However, that plan changed as she spotted another dog in the field, along with his owner. Smiling, she approached the fence, "I'd heard there was a new handsome fellow in town. Even if 'fetch' isn't his thing."

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick frowned as Basco's chin dropped to his front paws, tail dropping to the ground as well. He turned at the sound of a voice, the canine's reaction now obvious. While he could have played along with her words, say something that sounded like he though she was talking about him. However, he didn't want to say anything that could get either of them in trouble if it was overheard and taken the wrong way. "Yeah, thought I'd try out this pet thing." He scrunched his nose. "He's nothing like Bella, that's for sure. And he'd never win a beauty competition over Der."

He turned back to the dog. "Basco, bring." He smiled as the dog jumped to his feet, picked up the disk and bounded back to his side. "Maybe you two could demonstrate to Basco here what is supposed to happen in a game of fetch?"

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina laughed, "Oh, but he's got the best life." She smiled out at the dog, "And hey, nobody can hold a candle to Der. That doesn't mean he can't be second place."

She watched as the dog brought the frisbee back and noted the dog's name in case of future need. As Dr. Thatcher asked if they'd demonstrate 'fetch' for the other dog, Sina shrugged, "Only if he's comfortable with us sharing his space and having toys." She didn't want to crowd the dog, even if she did have Derecho's ball with her for the dog to play with, "Otherwise we can head out to the trails."

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick shook his head. "It's people that seem to freak Basco out, not other dogs." Well, the canine wasn't sure of pushy dogs, but he knew Der wasn't like that. "As for toys, I'll clip his leash on. I haven't done a lot of fetch with his guy so I really don't know what he's like. The people at the shelter did tell me he's afraid of large birds though." He rubbed the top of the Shepherd's head. "I think Der would be good for this guy too." The service dog's steady, calm nature would hopefully be a good experience for the cautious canine.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina nodded at the man's assurance and lifted the latch on the gate, stepping inside and securing the gate again before she unclipped Derecho's leash and draped it over the fence.

She walked a couple steps closer to the other pair, Derecho keeping in step and then settling into a down on a hand signal as the girl looked over, "Now, Basco. Pay close attention." She grinned at the dog, then at the teacher, "Ready?"

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick looked down as Basco pressed against his leg as the pair approached, though the Shepherd didn't seem overly stressed, and he rubbed the dog's head before taking the teddy from his back pocket and offered it to the dog.

He laughed at Sina's words and nodded as he sat down beside his dog, not at all caring that the grass was damp. "Pay close attention." He said to Basco in an exaggerated whisper. "These two are experts in the game of fetch."

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina laughed, "Something like that." She looked down and raised an eyebrow at Derecho, then nodded, "Okay." The dog tore off sprinting as Sina reached back and then flung the tennis ball down the field. It bounced once before Derecho honed in on it and then brought the ball back, tail waving and ears alert. He brought the ball over to her, and Sina reached out to take it before turning back to Dr. Thatcher and Basco, "Good enough?" She grinned, "Maybe Basco would prefer a ball to a frisbee?" She held out the toy, "They can take turns."

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick moved his attention from watching Derecho fetching the ball to Basco's reaction to the other dog, and he was sure that his Shepherd sighed, showing no interest in the idea of chasing a ball. "That was great." He said with a smile. He shook his head at her offer. "I think the only way I could get him to chase anything is to tie his teddy on to it." Now that he'd suggested it, it didn't sounds like a bad idea.

While he hadn't wanted a puppy, he supposed that along the lines of fun and games, his dog kind of was, in learning about them anyway.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina shrugged, "Not every dog's going to be big on the chasing thing." Although most were - Which raised the question, was the dog not interested, or taught not to? She tossed the ball absently again for Derecho, then turned her attention back to the dog and teacher, "So what's his story?"

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Sina shrugged, "Not every dog's going to be big on the chasing thing." Although most were - Which raised the question, was the dog not interested, or taught not to? She tossed the ball absently again for Derecho, then turned her attention back to the dog and teacher, "So what's his story?"

Mick nodded, the dog wasn't that big on the whole playing thing, other than his teddy, but that was a whole different story. He watched as the other dog chased after the ball again. "He was found chained to his kennel. The family had been gone for a week before the land agent was called and informed that there was a dog on the property." He shrugged as he crouched down beside the Shepherd and scratched him behind the ear. "The people who had left him had cared enough to keep his vaccinations up to date and stuff like that, but not enough to take him with them."

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina frowned as she heard that, "That sucks, poor guy." She looked down at the cross, "You've got a good life now, though, Basco." She took the ball as Derecho brought it back, then considered, "Would he like to meet Der or do you think he's good with just parallel play?" She didn't mind either way - But Derecho was good if the other dog needed a canine buddy around campus.

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick nodded at the girl's quick assessment of the canine's life so far, and smiled as she spoke to the dog, who actually perked up at having someone else's attention, though only his ears lifted.

His brows dipped in thought of Basco actually being introduced to another dog. The canine had never shown aggression toward other dogs in passing, and he wasn't exactly concerned about having Derecho in close proximity right now, and he knew that the other Shepherd wouldn't get in Basco's face. "I think an introduction could be good for Basco." He said with a nod, remembering the encounter the canine had had on the trails with a rather friendly dog.

[Sina Aleardi]

Sina nodded at the response, then looked down to Derecho, "Behave." She released the dog to go and greet, and then watched as the merle shepherd approached the other dog in a curved line. There was definitely something to be said for mature dogs - They knew dog manners, as opposed to puppies. And Der certainly did, angling towards Basco.

[Mikhail Thatcher]

Mick chuckled softly, as he hadn't known the other dog to be anything but behaved. He then looked down at Basco, frowning in concern as the dog's hackles rose as he watched the other's approach, though the man remained silent as Basco didn't make a sound or even move, other than rising to his feet - so he wasn't in such a vulnerable position he guessed - and his tail wagged slightly as the other Shepherd drew closer. "So far so good." The blessings of a dog that knew how to approach another calmly.