The Bald Tail Mystery

Kimber has this bald spot on the end of her tail that just won't seem to grow any hair. At first I thought it was something she was doing in her crate when we would put her up before we left, but we have been giving her more freedom to lay around in the patches of sunlight while we're gone and so far, so good. We had issues with separation anxiety/puppyhood before, but she has been maturing and we have gotten a lot better at Ridgeback proofing the house (those dogs will eat anything). Today I found out that bald spot was because when I leave she gets nervous and starts chewing the end of her tail.

I came home at lunch to find her jumping up and down, squealing, and generally causing a big ruckus because "OMG MOTHER'S HOME!!! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!" Once she stopped leaping into the air (this dog jumps off all four of her paws and springs into the air like Tigger.... you even see the little extra kick she does with her back legs for added ups) I saw her calm herself down. She grabbed the end of her tail and just started chewing and pacing, trying to get it together. "Stop that, silly girl!" I chided, patted her on the head, and walked off to find Hank to give him a good butt scratch. Next thing I knew there was a ridgepig in my face going crazy and then I saw the carnage. Blood spatter EVERYWHERE and Kimber just wiggling away, flinging blood with every slap of her tail.

My first instinct was to tackle her to the ground and grab hold of that tail, which I did, but then realized I didn't have supplies, so I put her in her crate, grabbed whatever I could, and slowly let her out, ready to brave the wrestlemania that was about to ensue... and OH DID WRESTLEMANIA ENSUE. Kimber at first thought I was playing, so she started chewing my arm, leaping around, and flinging blood every time I touched her so again I had to tackle her and grab the end. That was just too much fun and after rolling around, pinning her, and doing some VERY creative taping all the while suffering paws to the face and teeth to the top of my head, I finally got the tip of her crazy, whiplike tail secured. Then came Full Shame Face, where she scrunched up her face, hung her head and slunk away, so I had to reassure her that she was ok all the while completely disheveled, sweaty, panting, and cleaning up the murder scene that was my house. When I finished, she walked over to me, sat, thumped her tail a few times, and then both of us sighed and collapsed into a big heap on the floor.

Real life is sometimes so much better than fiction.