For the first time ever, Sparky got to chase a rabbit by looking where I was pointing.

Sparky doesn’t understand a core concept that everyone else has figured out.  That is a finger pointing toward the ground.  Look where the finger is pointing.

To Sparky, that is a closed hand concealing a treat.   Look at the hand, hoping it will open to reveal the prize.

Sparky isn’t differently-tarded or anything like that, he just never learned about pointing fingers when he was young and impressionable.  With effort, he could learn, but it would never be automatic.  If we were talking about rabbits, he would forget his training.  Oddly, he immediately learned what the word “rabbit” means.

This morning, I saw the rabbit and the rabbit saw me.  The rabbit froze in place, which wasn’t a great idea.  I called Sparky over and told him about the rabbit.  Sparky ran into a big bush.  I called him over again, and pointed toward the rabbit. 

I’m not sure if Sparky understood the pointing business,.  I was edging slowly toward the rabbit, and Sparky was following me.  The rabbit was doubling-down on the standing still decision.  Since Sparky was looking in the direction we were walking, the penny finally dropped and the chase was on.

I enjoy Sparky’s exuberant yelp when he is in hot pursuit.  The rabbit ran into the woods when Sparky wasn’t looking, so Sparky didn’t follow.  After that, Sparky snuffled around the yard, recreating the rabbit’s flight path. 

So, that’s an eventful morning.