四季成り果樹園芸: 午後散歩　Afternoon Walk

私が買い物でスーパーをハシゴしている間タイガが退屈そうにしていたので、中途半端な時間でしたが、留守番のご褒美に午後の3時半過ぎに公園へ向かいました。

While I was out for shopping at supermarkets, Taiga held the fort looking bored. As a reward, I took her out for a walk after 3:30 p.m., although it was not our usual walk time.

公園に着いてドッグランの方角を目指していると、初めて会う小さな小さなトイプードルの子に出くわしました。男の子で名前はアム君、３歳、体重は意外とあって2.7kgだそうです。もっと軽そうに見えました。

At the park, when we were heading for the dog park, we met a new face - a tiny Toy Poodle, named Amu, 3 years old, weighing 2.7kg. He was so tiny that I thought he looked much lighter than that.

トイプードル独特のボタンを縫い付けたような目が何とも言えません。

These Toy Poodle eyes, looking like two buttons sewn to a stuffed animal's face.

飼い主さんによると子犬の頃に大きな犬にコワイ思いをさせられたそうで、タイガにはちょっと引いた感じですが、決して吠えたり声を出すことはありませんでした。

According to his mom, he had scary encounters with large dogs when he was a puppy. As a result, he was not keen on meeting Taiga. However, he never barked or growled.

ちょっとリラックスした表情？次回からはもっと平気で挨拶ができるかも知れません。

Now he is looking relaxed a little. Perhaps from next time, he will greet Taiga with more confidence.

さらに行くと、近所の豆柴のリカちゃんが散歩を終えて帰るところでした。リカちゃんはいつ会ってもタイガには全く興味を示しませんが、

As we went along, we met Rika, a miniature Shiba Inu, from our neighbourhood. She had finished her walk and was on her way home. Rika never shows any interest in Taiga, but

私にはカゴから身を乗り出して甘えてきます。耳がヒコーキ状態。

she always greets me enthusiastically, with her ears flat.

ドッグランのある林に入って後ろを振り返ると、逆光線なのですっかり夕方の景色になっていました。

At the entrance of the woodland where the dog park was, I turned back and saw how dark it was getting already.

ラン手前のベンチでは柴犬のミオウ（美桜）ちゃんと、

Near the bench in the woods, we saw Miou, a female Shiba Inu, and

ラブラドゥードルのカイト君がいました。

Kaito, a male Labradoodle. Both of them have known Taiga since they were puppies.

タイガは久しぶりに会うカイト君のお父さんに挨拶。

Taiga greeting Kaito's dad - it is usually Kaito's mom who takes him out for a walk.

帰るためにカイト君パパがバッグを持ち上げたとたん、皆が「オヤツ？」のプレッシャーをかけていました。まるで勘違いしたかのように、皆してダメモトの演技をしています。

Kaito's dad was getting ready to go home and lifted his bag, at which moment all the three dogs looked at him with hopeful looks. They knew it was not a treat time, but they were putting pressure on Kaito's dad nevertheless, by pretending to be mistaken. Such dedicated actors.

そのあとはランへ向かいました。

We walked towards the dog park.

タイガは登録の更新をしていないので、ランの外から知っている顔がいないか見るだけ。幼馴染のボーダーのマグ（左）と、３年くらい後から迎えられた妹のデジ（右）がいました。目の前のボールをめぐって心理戦です。

Since Taiga's registration has not been renewed, we stayed outside of the fence, trying to see if there were familiar faces. We saw two Border Collies: Mag (left) and her younger sister Deji (right). The two girls were playing a psychological battle over the ball in front of them.

マグは優しい性格で、デジが子犬の頃に我儘を許したので、今でもデジは自分のほうが偉いと思っているようです。

Mag is a soft-hearted girl, and she spoiled Deji who arrived at their home about 3 years after Mag. Now grown up, Deji thinks she is above Mag.

この様子を見ると、デジは姉に譲歩する気は全くなさそう。

Looking at this, it is clear that Deji has no intention of yielding the ball to her older sister.

マグたちを眺めていたところへ、柴犬のヤマトがやって来ました。最後にいつ会ったか分からないほど久しぶりで、ヤマトは大興奮で私に挨拶してきました。いつまでも子犬っぽい仕草です。

As we were watching the Border Collies, an old friend arrived - a male Shiba Inu, named Yamato. It has been such a long time since we last met, and Yamato was really excited to see me. He behaves like an eternal puppy.