Smokey Joe and the Coyotes

My daughter Jane gave my big black shaggy dog, Smokey Joe, to me after she found him as a 4-month old puppy that had been dropped off beside the road. I had recently lost my husband and I was lonely and felt the need of company and protection. Smokey could do that job with ease. Nine years later he weighs over 120 pounds and looks rather fearsome at a distance, but he hasn't a mean bone in his body. He wags his very large plumey tail so hard it seems to be wagging the rest of his body. He loves everybody and their dogs too.

Except coyotes. We live way out in rock and chaparral covered mountains near the Mexican border in California, and there are lots of coyotes. Smokey has been in a state of confusion about coyotes for most of his nine years, and it's my fault. Since he was a puppy I have encouraged to chase away all the marauding coyotes he sees for the protection of our cats, and he knows that is his main job. But there is one coyote I call Zelda who shows up from time to time, and her friendly maneuvers to elicit my sympathy often work. After all my cats and two dogs are inside for the night, I sometimes see her and put food out for her at a good distance from our trailer. I haven't seen her in over two months and haven't put any food out specifically for her lately. But I still put stale bread out for the crows and other birds that often show up in large flocks to scrounge for something to eat.

Last night when my pets were inside for the night, I went out into the moonlight to scatter stale bread and some old cat food that had been spilled and was wet and dirty. I didn't scatter the cat food but left it in a little pile. If coyotes didn't eat it, I knew the birds would later.

Every morning Smokey Joe wants to go out just before daylight. I let him out earlier this morning, and when I got up as soon as it was light enough to see a little bit, I saw a big black something lying out in the middle of the field. As it became lighter I could see for sure that it was Smokey. He had planted himself right by the spot where I had put the cat food. He wasn't eating and I think the food was gone before he got there, but he knew I had put food there for the coyotes. He objects to that and he was staking his claim to that spot in case any coyotes were lurking in the bushes up on the hill looking his way.I think he wanted to shout at them, "Hey, you little varmints! Any food you find in this spot is MINE! And don't you forget it!"  He stayed there for about 20 minutes after I first noticed him, and he keeps going back to the spot, standing there looking up toward the hill and daring any coyote to come his way.

Smokey is smart and seems to understand most of what I say to him. He also follows gestures and anticipates my routine actions so that he keeps his huge self out from under foot quite well. I never taught him tricks like chasing things or sitting up, shaking hands, or anything like that. I have always looked on him as my friend and buddy, and don't want him to have to 'perform' for anyone. As a dog he probably would have enjoyed it. I have tried to teach him to walk beside me so I can use his broad back for support when I get dizzy, but he was born with an inborn compulsion to walk right behind my right heel and even when I coax him to walk beside me he soon falls back into his usual position. Sometimes he drools on my ankle.

I have always had a suspicion that Smokey bonded with a young man before he was dumped off beside the road. He has always shown an extra eagerness to know and make friends with guys. I think he is disappointed to have only an old woman to smooze with. But over the years he has shown increasing affection and respect for me. I guess as he approaches old age in dog years, he has become reconciled to the fact he is probably stuck with me, but he probably wishes he could train me not to
feed coyotes.


Addendum: If anyone wants to be serious about rating this articleI would appreciate your honest critique about what is wrong with it.