Lightning's Revenge

A while back, I wrote about how thieving Thumper steals Lightning's bones, along with the question "Do dogs think?".  I had planned to follow that up (promptly) with Lightning's revenge, but then he got sick, and I got distracted, and now it's December, and I'm writing a post I planned to write in October. 

With respect to the question of dogs thinking, my dog trainer friend sums her opinion up as, "Dogs are problem solvers".  Thumper has demonstrated that on MANY occasions, some of which result in Lightning losing a chew bone.  I think Lightning has been taking notes from his buddy....read on and compare to Thumper's scheme.  My take on Lightning's thoughts are represented by bold print.

The scene:  Family room, where Thumper is lounging on the fancy posturepedic dog bed while Lightning is on the rug.  All the people are present.

Problem:  Thumper is on the comfy dog bed.  I want the comfy dog bed.

Research:  Thumper always wants what I have, so I have to use that to my advantage. 

Solution:  Walk over to the people.  Sit and stare at them until they talk to me and pet me.  Then snuggle up against them and make Thumper jealous.

Result:  Thumper saw Lightning getting pets, and immediately he left the comfy dog bed to come bump him out of the way and take his place.  Lightning ran over and took over the comfy dog bed.  Problem solved!

As for the bones, Lightning discovered that he can hide his bones upstairs under a bed that Thumper can't quite crawl under.  Lol.  Thumper is not fond of the stairs, but Lightning loves them.  He always has.  He runs up and down them like it's an A frame on an agility course.  So, much to my surprise one day, I heard scrambling up the stairs and some noise from the bedroom, and then Lightning appeared with his bone.  I didn't know he had it in him to outsmart Thumper about the bones, but he did. 

So, my conclusion is that yes, dogs think.  I doubt that they sit around plotting how to outdo each other.  I think it's purely spontaneous.  I've seen them think on their feet and come up with a fix for a problem as it happens - which makes sense because I think we've all witnessed that dogs are "in the moment".  They leave the big thinking and worrying to us.  ;)

 
Now I feel better.....finally got this one done.  In other news - still going to obedience class with Thumper, and he's giving me some blog fodder for future posts.  Lightning is jealous of all the treats Thumper gets while training and does not hesitate to let me know it. 
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!  It's COLD here, and we are not used to that, so we are doing our best to stay warm.  Lightning is curled up in his favorite way, using his tail to cover his eyes.  Thumper keeps sprawling across my lap.  He's warmer than any blanket, so I'm not complaining!  Have a good day!  

Monday Mischief - Obedience Class, Day 1

I am FINALLY starting obedience classes with Thumper.  I am excited to be doing something with the dogs again, and I can't wait for him to learn how to walk without hurting my shoulder!

He was very excited to go for a ride.  Of course, he didn't know where we were going, and he didn't care.  When he saw the lift gate open, he hopped in.  And then he walked right to the passenger seat and plopped himself in it, person-style.  See - he really doesn't know he's a dog.  He makes me smile, and I love that.   


ON THE WAY TO OBEDIENCE CLASS:

oh my gosh!  so excited!  I'm in the boy's seat woo hoo!

what do you mean sit in the back? 

ON THE WAY HOME AFTER OBEDIENCE CLASS:

Whew I'm tired.  I wonder if that pretty little Golden will be there next time?  I really want to play with her squeak ball.

Plans, Halloween, and Sparkly Things

This past week did not go according to my plan.

I wrote the last blog post and planned to do a follow up a few days later about Lightning's response to Thumper's craftiness in stealing his bones.  You may have noticed that didn't happen.

I planned to go and watch my son's football game afterschool on Tuesday, but that didn't happen.  I got stuck at work giving a presentation until 7 PM.  I got home late and was greeted by Thumper who was happy to see us and Lightning who wasn't acting quite right.

Wednesday morning did not go according to plan either.  Lightning would not eat, threw up frequently, and didn't want to move.  His weirdness on Tuesday night wasn't just being moody.  He was sick.  So I called my boss to let him know I'd be a bit late (wasn't it a good thing I was there til 7 the night before???).  I took him to the vet fearing the worst.  They called later on to say that he needed to stay overnight.  Great.

After an overnight stay at the vets, a couple hundred dollars in bloodwork (it all came back fine, thank goodness), and some prescription dog food, he came home with the diagnosis of "I think your doggy just got into something in yard while digging for moles".  By now it's Thursday, aka Halloween.  I picked Lightning up from the vet, and I was eager to get home and pass out candy to the trick or treaters.  Wouldn't you know, as soon as we started to leave the vets, it started to storm?  WTH.    

I managed to salvage some of our Halloween tradition.  It might have been storming and trick-or-treat might be iffy, but my pups were prepared for the evening in their Halloween bandannas.  I don't think Lightning much appreciated his.  As my son pointed out, "Mom....it's got glitter on it....and he's a boy."  I told him that I was sure Lightning wouldn't know.

WTH am I doing in this sparkly thing? Does she think I'm one of those sparkly vampires from the Twilight movies?  

I'm so embarassed.  Take me back to the vet.  Please.  I beg you.   And for dog's sake, don't take my picture!

I'm glad I've got this bandanna with the skulls on it.    I don't sparkle.  Lightning looks like a girl in that sparkly thing. 

Happy late Halloween, everybody.

Do Dogs Think?

I often wonder how dogs think.  Do they think "I took two naps now my people should be home"?  Do they watch what their people do and think "those crazy people....where are they always running to"?  A dear friend who is also a respected local dog trainer says that dogs think but not that deeply.  Her position is "dogs are problem solvers".  I can't argue with that - as demonstrated by Thumper in the following tale:

Sunday, as I was leaving to go work on the new house (will it EVER get finished?), I gave each dog a chew bone.  They ran in opposite directions and sat with their bones.  You would think they don't trust each other....lol.  When I got home later, Lightning had chewed on his, but it still looked new.  Thumper's was a nub. 

I went into the bathroom to run my bathwater, and my two shadows followed me. Thumper took his position on the foot of the bed (his bone was now gone).  Lightning sat on the floor and chewed contentedly on his bone.  Suddenly, Thumper barked. Very loudly. Lightning, who obviously believed he had missed something while chewing on his bone, dropped the bone and scampered out of the room.  Immediately Thumper hopped off the bed, grabbed the bone, and jumped back to his spot.  Thumper's problem-solving process would have been like this....

Problem:  I don't have a bone but there is a bone in this room.

Research:  Lightning has a bone.  Lightning always runs to the door when I bark.  

Solution:  Bark and take Lightnings bone when he drops it and leaves the room.    If it's in my mouth, it's mine, after all. 

Very similar to the scientific method, isn't it?  (Yes, I'm a science nerd....). Next post I'll share how Lightning has figured out to cope with his thieving buddy.  

So long post tonight.  If you stuck with it til the end - thanks!  Do you ever think about stuff like this - do you wonder if your dog is a philosopher like I do?

It's mine!

We are headed out of town this weekend, and I just dropped the dogs off for boarding.  It's a really neat place - vet office on one side, kennel on the other.  Halloween decorations, including a dancing broom, in the lobby.  That broom will never be the same again - after checking them in, I turned around and saw Thumper lifting his leg by that broom.  Now it's his broom.  Definitely the embarrassing pet moment of the day for me....Mr. Personality just trotted back over like nobody saw him.  ***sigh*** 

K-9 Kamp - Are you trying it?

I've been seriously unmotivated lately.  Blogging, housekeeping, gardening, exercising.  Pretty much in any way you can imagine.

A few years ago, exercising was a big part of my routine.  A few times a week I'd go to the gym and do a weight training circuit class and some cardio.  Plus, I was usually in constant motion at home and work, chasing kids and keeping up my flower beds at home and running up and down stairs in the plant at work.  Fast forward to now.  I go to work.  I sit.  I drive home (sitting of course, and usually yawning).  I get home.  I sit.  I just DON'T want to get up and do a thing.  It's depressing.  Where my legs used to have muscles, now, well, they don't.  Neither do my arms.  And let's not even go to the abs.  Let's just say it's gotten so bad that even the hubby (who is no fitness fiend himself) has suggested I get laser lipo. 

I heard about K-9 Kamp on a blog hop last week.  I'm trying to participate in it - the goal for this week was to exercise 30 minutes MORE with your dog 3 or 4 times a week.  I did it.  :)   The dogs and I went for a walk three times this week.  Tiny step, but a tiny step in the right direction. 

Have you heard about K-9 Kamp?  You can learn more at Kol's Notes.  Maybe next I'll even do some sit ups.