The Missing Glove

During the short winter days in North Idaho, everyone is getting bored at the end of January. We long for sunny days, spring to come 'early' and SOME sort of diversion from the gray days and long winter nights. Not just us humans; winter takes it's toll on our alpacas and our LGD, Thor, as well.

The alpacas have been huddled in their shelters for weeks not wanting to go out in the 6" of snow, and they definitely don't want to venture out into the dismal pasture and a sky filled with low-hanging clouds. They especially don't want to face the ice fog either. I can't blame them when visibility is less than 500 feet!! It is quite depressing actually, and no matter how much encouragement we give the alpacas to 'get out for exercise' they seem to have their own agenda and stay huddled in their shelters.

Thor's creativity to relieve his boredom is quite extraordinary! Typically we find him lying near the boys (alpaca boys that is) in their shelter; occasionally he can be found out in the middle of another pasture lying on top of the snow. When he sees one of us headed to the barn for feeding, he races to the barn to greet us.

When filling the feed bowls, I take one winter glove off and set it aside, usually on a bench that is near where I'm working. Thor's new diversion is to steal it!! He watches me go about my tasks, waits for my back to be turned and then, going unnoticed, he 'steals' the winter glove and slips silently out of the barn. Stealing one of those 'winter-type' gloves that keep hands warm during the icy cold weather can really get a 'human's attention' in short order!!!

Thor has no use for a 'glove'. His fiber keeps him toasty warm in sub-zero weather! But this has become a great game, especially if he can get me to go after him! He seems to know exactly how long it will take for me to be involved in chores and not paying him any mind! He knows the best time to steal the winter glove too, all in hopes that the "Game" will begin.

One late-night feeding, Thor came to the barn as usual, and was lying innocently outside the feed-room door waiting for his usual petting and belly-scratch while I went about feeding the alpacas. When I finished, I went to gather my glove, and turn off the lights, but the glove was missing. "Now where DID I put it?" I thought. I looked in the pellet tub, thinking I accidentally dropped it when putting the lid on. Not there. It wasn't on top of the hay bales either. So I re-traced my steps around the barn, checking the hay bins I'd just filled.nothing.

I noticed Thor had gone outside. "Thor!" I called. "Where's my glove? Come here Puppy." His white head pokes in the door, and I can see his tail wagging happily, a look in his eyes that says "Game is about to be ON".

"Thooorrrrrr? Where's my glove?" I ask, as I open the stall gate to see if he had taken it outside. Sheer delight radiates from him, as he makes a fast u-turn to go out the door, and pick something up just outside the door (the glove). He races about 30 feet down the pasture tossing his head to shake the glove, turns to face me, then lays down and drops the glove.

"Thor, it's cold out here. Good boy for dropping the glove." I tell him, as I slowly approach. I get within three feet of him and my warm winter glove when he grabs it and leaps up to run another 30 feet. "THOR! Stop this! I need my glove!!!"

As soon as I get close again, he's up and running, including racing around me just close enough that I can't catch him. He's such a tease!! After about 10 minutes of this Dog versus Human game of chase, I just started laughing and headed for the barn. Clearly, I was going to have to out-tease him if I wanted my glove any time soon!!

"Okay Thor, you can have it. I'm going to the barn." I tell him.

That's no fun!!! He wants the game to continue. Reluctantly he followed me in the barn, and into the feed room, leaving the glove behind.

I gave Thor a treat — a milk bone — and he happily went back outside. He had left the glove just inside the barn door.

As I turned off the lights, I realized just how much fun we had at his little game, and started laughing at his ingenuity and the sight we must have been running around the pasture at night.

I headed to the house, with both gloves and wondered if I'd have as much fun the next night!!!

(I did!)

The Missing Glove

Other Alpaca Stories