Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Leapin' Lizard – Smooch meets her match

Smooch found a lizard trespassing on the porch. Every time she thought she had it beat, the darned thing would leap up and scare the heck out of her.








And because I knew someone would ask, what kind of lizard was that?, I did a little googling. I believe this is a Western Fence Lizard, aka Blue Belly Lizard. They eat insects and spiders and are commonly seen sunning on paths and rocks. This behavior makes them vulnerable to predation by snakes and birds and curious dogs. I could find no reference to their propensity to eat daffodils.

p.s. Don't miss the lizard's shadow in the last picture.

27 comments:

  1. Whatta way to start the day ... way to go Smooch!! I love the looks on her face in each picture. How long did this game last? Who gave out first?

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  2. Ha, Ha, great pictures of Smooch. She looks to be having a really great time with her toy. Did she ever actually get the lizard or will it be around for more fun.

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  3. I love Smooch. He is quite the dog.

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  4. Pat, the match lasted about five minutes and it was I who gave out first - it started to get really ugly, so I pushed the lizard off the porch and out of Smooch's reach. Arlene, I fear he did not live to leap again.

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  5. Smooch is so cute! If you had my Dora around there, you could kiss the lizzards good-bye. You know how skiddish I am about lizzards and snakes and spiders? Well the other night there was a rather large gekko on the side of the house, well she saw it. She jumped up about 3 1/2 feet and got that little sucker and drug it into the house and presented it in the middle of the den, I screemed. Loudly. And she is a wiener dog...short and tough!

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  6. You take the best pics! Love the action shot of the lizard. Smooch is a cutie.

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  7. You have a great knack of being in the right place at the right time don't you! I just love the expressions on Smooch's face, just wondering now what the lizard was thinking....*smiles*

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  8. absolutely love these pics great lizard shots and yep I wa sgonna be asking what kind of lizard LOL
    Its ok smooch we still love you too!

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  9. Waking up and knowing I'm retired--good, really good. Having that first cup of coffee--mmm, great. Sipping coffee while doing the first reading of the 7MSN blog--priceless! (But always dangerous to the keyboard when the coffee gets snorted over Smooch's adventures).

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  10. my bird dog would have been in heaven she loves to chase lizards..she has ate countless lizards

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  11. Love the last pic of the shadow!

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  12. Great pics! Love the expressions, and it looks like she had fun LOL

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  13. Love the pictures, and those expressions on Smooch's face! Is she a Basenji?

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  14. That's too strange! I've never seen a lizard do that. Bet Smooch hadn't either. And how cool are you to catch that thing in midair? Good job!

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  15. So lizards really DO leap? I didn't know that. Love the story and photos and your deck looks fabulous.

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  16. And here I always thought "leapin' lizards" was just a phrase.

    Your dog handled it much better than mine would have! And the pictures are lovely =)

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  17. What wonderful photos! Isn't it great the way dogs provide so much entertainment and laughter?

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  18. I'm with Smooch. That thing was freakin' ME out!

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  19. I love lizards- its the "mark" of when Spring begins officially around my folks place! We actually count how many "wizzards" are around on the rock wall >>>"wizzards" is cat speak for lizards because my two kitties like to play with them! They'll play for as long as the dog doesn't interrupt them or kill them which ever comes first??

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  20. OMG! That is so funny! Leapin lizards is right!

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  21. That is so hilarious! Love Smooch!
    I also didn't realize that lizards could leap! They leap pretty darn high!

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  22. I didn't know lizards could leap, either! I'm glad you told us what kind it was, because I could see the blue but for the life of me didn't know there were blue lizards! ;) Your photos were great, I could just see Smooch in action!

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  23. Sheba would LOVE a lizard that gave back!! Over here, they just run, but there are so many of them, so there is always someone to try to catch.

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  24. LOL this post made my day! Good old smooch, ahh the simple things in life!!! =)

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  25. Oh for PETE'S sake...those are incredible pictures! They tell quite a story. Sure glad that lizard wasn't as big as his shadow! lol

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  26. Smooch needs to come on up for a visit with Cindy Sue and do some Sage Rat huntin'...what a pair they'd make!

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