All of the dogs have been TROUBLE for the last few days. I guess I could blame the warmer weather? They have certainly been excited about being able to stay out for more than 90 seconds without risking frost bite.
Lola, in particular, has been thrilled to mouth off to all of the squirrels and try to climb fences and trees to catch them. Poor thing doesn’t realize that even if she can climb the fence, she’s still 30 feet too low to reach the squirrel.
Skeeter poodle has barked pretty much non-stop, at invisible things — though TW said last night there were coyotes outside. I didn’t see them so maybe Skeeter just somehow told her they were out there?
Buster butt just runs around madly because the other two are excited by stuff. He has no idea what that stuff is but he’s more than happy to help them cause chaos.
It’s not just the running around and barking though.
I’ve found Skeeter eating several things she should not have.
A shoe.
A book.
Some mail that turned out only to be an empty envelope, thankfully.
And… the big one… TW’s brand new leather iPhone wallet that she’d only had for 36 hours. Her brand new leather iPhone wallet that she LOVES. Yep. Destroyed. By Skeeter. Not by Buster. Though it is possible that Buster retrieved it and passed it on to Skeeter to eat. He does that sometimes. Still. She KNOWS BETTER.
Speaking of knowing better… Buster might be learning something…
One of the most frustrating things about Buster butt is that he has not seemed to learn that we are unhappy with him when he eats all of the things. When we yell or stomp our way toward him or do some other thing to try and stop him from eating what he’s eating, he has always just sat there chewing the forbidden item and looking at us like we’re nuts or even wagged his tail thinking we’re coming to play.
For the last couple of days though, he’s made that ashamed face when he sees me coming to retrieve something he shouldn’t have. A couple of times he’s slunk away from what he was headed for when he heard me tell him NO.
I’m telling myself that this is a sign that we’re making progress. It IS a sign we’re making progress, right?
Posts like this are really good at convincing me I really don’t want a dog. Well, that and the winter walks.
I remember when Max the oversized sheep dog ate stuff during puppy time – like the wall! We sprayed this stinky stuff that discouraged it, along with discipline. But leather iPhone wallet – wow!!!
Oh, dear… not the iPhone wallet! That would break my heart.
Maybe some dog shaming signs and photos would help?!
I would say it means Buster is learning what NO is. Since he is still a puppy (toddler) it will take awhile. Some breeds stay in puppyhood for up to 5 years and others settle down after 1-2 years.
I think changes in the weather affects small children and animals. I really do!