Dogs in the Fall Leaves

Fall lasts the same amount as every other season, but the amount of time between when the trees dress in their fiery autumn wardrobe and when the last of the brown desiccated leaves are raked into the compost pile is only a few weeks.

So, it’s best to make the most of that short time. Go for walks in the woods. Take pictures against photogenic backgrounds. Play in the leaf piles.

Actually that last part is mostly for kids and dogs. For the adult humans in the family, once the majority of the leaves have dropped, it’s time to rake. And where there are dozens of trees on and around our property, that’s a whole lot of leaves and a whole lot of raking.

But I always try to save a large pile for Lilah, Jasper and Tucker to enjoy. And what exactly do the dogs do in a heap of leaves? Amusingly enough, each of them finds something different to appreciate.

Below are three one-minute videos — like chapters — showing their differences.

Chapter 1: Leave Me Alone

Jasper likes making a soft bed out of the leaves, but Lilah would rather play.

Chapter 2: Having a Ball

Tucker thinks that leaves are a fun place to drop his ball into, and then find it again, and then drop his ball and find it again and…you get the picture. Jasper would still rather have some peace and quiet.

Chapter 3: All in the Leaves

Finally, Lilah gets Jasper to play, and eventually Tucker joins in — and gets so caught up in the game that he loses track of his ball. See if you can tell when he loses it.

I took a few still photos as well, before we dragged the last of the leaves away. Here are a few of my favorites:

First a few action shots…

Tucker, Jasper and Lilah playing in the leaves.

Lilah spends much of her time trying to get her brothers to play with her.

And some leaf pile portraits…

Lilah

Jasper in his bed.

Tucker, with his tongue hanging out.

And finally, a fall portrait of all three dogs.

Tucker, Lilah, and Jasper: three dogs in the leaves.

What do you or your pets like about the fall?

You may also like:

• A Fall Challenge: Finding Dog Poop Among the Leaves
• Fall is the New Black: All Dogs Look Good in Autumn
• Photo: Three dogs running through fall leaves
• My helpful dogs make fall leaf clean-up so much easier
• Haiku by Dog: Leaves
• Haiku by Dog: Kind
• Haiku by Dog: Quest
• Haiku by Dog: Treasure

Related posts:

My Dog Lies In a Bed of Leaves — and Loves It Fall is the New Black: All Dogs Look Good in Autumn Foiled by tick trefoil My helpful dogs make fall leaf clean-up so much easier