About a week before Thanksgiving...

In almost eleven years I can probably count on one hand or so how many times Chance and Blaze have ever gotten into a fight.  And it is almost always over food.  But something about this time was different.  Because they didn't stop fighting when I called their names, like they have before.  It was their longest fight they have ever had.  Almost three times as long than any time in the past.  To say they were shook up over it and were both leery with each other, is an understatement.

Chance scratched the white of Blaze's eye.  It was swollen and red and took two days to heal itself.   That was the worst of the physical damage.  But the emotional toll it took, was far beyond the damage of Blaze's eye.

They have kind of stayed away from each other for those two days and were both over respectful with each other.  It scared me a little.  What a difference those extra seconds made for them during that fight.  And to be fair it was kind of my fault.  They were all hyped up for their dinner, everyone was going crazy and then bam!  Suddenly Chance and Blaze were at each other's faces.

By the end of day 3 they were starting to come around to each other, just slightly.  Yet, here at day 11 since the fight, both are still acting scared of the other.

So I don't know what happened differently, other than the fight going on longer than normal, but it's a little scary watching them together.  There's no aggression of any kind, they just seem so cautious with each other and want to stay out of the other's way.

I feel like all the trust that was between them has been shattered in a way I can't understand or make better.  I don't know that there is anything I can do to "fix it" and that it will take Chance and Blaze to heal themselves and each other.  It is going to take time.  I just hope it repairable.  They have always been pretty good together and are fairly close, though not physically, but mentally.  I call them the Dynamic Duo.  It is why they made such good sled dogs, because they are quite the team and work together like a couple of Powerhouses.  There is no doubt that one always knows what the other is thinking, at all times.  So must have come as quite a shock to them when they were battling it out.  An accidental reaction that turned completely out of control. 

And if they were unprepared, image how I felt.  Totally out of character for both of them.  I would have not been able to predict that was going to happen, even after all my reviewing of the situation.  I don't think it was the fight itself, but the length of time and not being able to stop them that scared me.  That was not like either of them at all. 

So we'll be keeping an eye on them and saying some prayers.  And hopefully they will be able to come back together to be that wonderful team I love.  The Dynamic Duo. 

the Singing Duo