So--- things we 'do' just because ... it's inevitable that .... (Callie tongue-in-cheek!!!)

LOL, I am rolling (silently of course cause there are customers in the office)...poor Tink always getting blamed, lol!   she sez..."HUMMMM (taptaptap little tink feets) I know der iz sum faireeeezzzz dust in dis ding cause why else would da mommy lady keep it out of my reach"

We, do everything around what the boys have trained us to do.   Years ago, Shadow trained us to get trash cans with lids cause he was a paper thief.  Both Rocky and Shadow were laundry helpers...so if you are looking for a pair of socks or a towel that you tossed aside for a minute they will be in the laundry room :)  They are not chewed just taken to the proper location. 

I think the biggest thing is the bedtime ritual. 

" Iz me Rocky I will tell you how dis works.  8:55 Daddy's pill box goes beep,beep,beep... if Mommy is not around go find her and tell her cause that means he haz ta takes those pills.  When he iz done den iz time for  Yogurts.  Dis is a family thingy.  Mommy gets the Yogurts, dey iz in dat box where da cold stuff iz.  Hot gets 3 and I get 3, you haz to be nice and take them gently cause when your done Daddy tellz u what a good boy you are and den he gives you scritches and den mommy gives you scritches den daddy and den mommy well...you git da picture oh and Hot keeps pushin me out of da way so he can get more scritches den me. Den iz time ta go ta bed!"

shadowsgin

)...poor Tink always getting blamed, lol!   she sez..."HUMMMM (taptaptap little tink feets) I know der iz sum faireeeezzzz dust in dis ding cause why else would da mommy lady keep it out of my reach"

Purse sits on the bathoom floor where mom can reach it.  I gave up trying to put it "up" cos then everything else is just dragged with it and I am not that tall nor that mobile LOL

Now Muffin the Intrepid used to GUARD my purse (I could anchor him **anywhere** by telling him to "stay and WATCH my purse" and he would!)

I used to blame it on mints I'd keep at the bottom of the purse (now in the Metropolitian zip LOL) or various things -- but nope -- at this point everything is in a zip pouch and everything has a name. 

Rocky -- thanks for 'splainin ... and it's good you go 'get' Mom.  Somebuddy's gotta help Dad, huh?? Those yogurts sound like something my guys would like.

At our house if one dog is getting the "I'm disappointed" speech -- the other two form the "Geneva Convention" and go to the "other" parental unit to make sure the other human is aware that there is a General Breach of the Geneva Convention rules (it's hysterical -- like somehow they really think the other of us is going to go "rescue' the first dog.)  At least that's what it's called in our little international home.

 Oh my, rofl, both of you are great writers!~

 Around here, I can honestly say we didn't have to do much of anything when we added dogs as of Dec 2006 -- not until the arrival of Willy July 15, 2010!  Oh my the impact this boy has had on our lives and our possessions!!!  I often wonder at all the "free time" I MUST have had pre Willy, he heeee.

My table constantly has dirty socks and even a sneaker or slipper as a centerpiece now.  The kitchen "can" was fine for years with a top and a foot pedal, easy for us to use.  Now, we have a bucket INSIDE a kitchen cupboard under the sink.  Toilet paper was always faithfully kept on the roll in both bathrooms, but it is now up on the tank, together with the bathroom 'can.'  Baby gates are up in FOUR places to keep certain rooms "Willy free!"  The cats often gravitate to those spaces, but believe me, the gates were NOT put up for cat safety, not a bit of it!   Cords around the house - for lamps, phones, the aquarium, clocks and radios, TV, stereo, etc. are all coated with Vaseline.  Pens and pencils used to be quite handy for phone memos, my daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper, now all out of Willy reach.

Here is something I wrote Nov 13, 2011, right after this happened:

Friday morning:

Willy tossed a bunch of stuff off my night table as he reached for one of my socks, which he held high and proudly showed off as he jumped up onto my recliner.  When that didn't get him any attention, he trotted into Dad's bedroom,  moving the baby gate aside.  Stole Dad's undergarment (which I keep TELLING Dad to put in a bag and put out in the trash IMMEDIATELY!).  This got my attention, so I went to the fridge for a bit of hot dog -- Willy met me there.  Dad scrambled to get the thing, and put it out.  Then headed off to the bathroom.  I returned to the recliner to finish cleaning up -- Willy hopped up onto Dad's chair, which I TELL HIM TO PUSH IN, onto the table and ate Dad's breakfast.  As I charged in hollering at him "OFF!  GET DOWN!" he grabbed a card I had all set up for a friend's birthday and took off, shredding it as he ran.  I pushed the chair in, started picking up the pieces of card, Willy passed me.  I realized I didn't know WHY he would need to go that direction, stopped picking up paper and went to see.  He moved another baby gate and was in eating the cat food.  Chased him out, using the baby gate to move him -- moving Willy from food is likely to get you a bite!  He grumbled and headed out.  I reset the gate and went back to pick up the rest of the card.  Dad is sitting at the table asking about his breakfast.  "Where's Willy?"  Dad said he thought he went by.  I keep going, Willy is in Dad's bedroom again, Dad hadn't closed the door OR set the gate.  He peed on Dad's clothes hamper and was pulling a sock through the grating.  I hollered and got him out of there, went to get paper towels and cleaner to work on the hamper.  Dad is asking about his breakfast.  "I'm BUSY get it yourself!"  Sorry, that's what I said, lol.  Dad gets up, LEAVES HIS CHAIR OUT, and next thing I hear Dad hollering, "Wlily stop!  Willy get down!"  I stop what I'm doing again and rush out, now Willy is up on the table snuffling around the plastic flowers (can't keep real one w/ cats.)  I get him down and shoo him and Tasha outdoors.

I finished cleaning up everything, got Dad his SECOND breakfast, got my coffe, took the newspaper, let the 2 barking dogs back in and sat in my recliner.  Willy hopped up and snuggled between my legs with his head on my belly (this is his favorite position).  HE twisted his head and looked up at me with those soft brown eyes of his:  "You LOVE me, Mum, Don't Cha?!"    I'd been up all of 15 minutes and I was sweated up and exhausted!  But of course my Willy Boy got a snuggle.

Saturday evening:
We had pizza.  The pizza box is on the counter - can't have it on the table, Willy lives here ya know?  I took mine and left Dad standing there with his plate, all set, right? Wrong.  Dad manages to get 2 slices on his plate and the plate flips and falls to the floor, pizza sides down.  (Naturally!)  Willy goes FLYING into the kitchen, snags an entire slice and trots under the kitchen table.  Dad is hollering at Marlin, Tasha and the rest who now flocked in to see what was happening.  I get up and go to help, but have to take my plate with me and set it on the counter, as leaving it on the table is risky.  Shoo the dogs and cats away, Dad gets the rest of it up, Marlin moves in to clean the floor.  I walk over, bend down and look at Willy under the table, chewing on HIS slice.  Get a deep growl for me efforts.    "I didn't say a WORD, Willy, be quiet and enjoy your prize!"  I left.  Dad asks why I'm letting him have it?  "Because I value my fingers more!"  As the other dogs wants to check what he had, Willy took his slice and trotted into the other room, hopped up on Dad's recliner and stood facing the chair back -- Tasha has been known to walk by and pull a toy from his mouth if he is sitting facing out.  Willy happily ate his piece of pizza.

There was a whole of antics in between these 2 events -- never a dull moment with Willy Dog in the house!  But you get the idea. 

 Honestly? well he's trained us so well I have to really think about things.............

we never use the garbage can in the downstairs toilet - the master bathroom and the guest bath are fine but if anything is in THAT garbage can he'll eat it. He checks it every evening while we eat dinner - this is serious business and he will open the door to check the bin!

The garbage can in my husband's office is on top of the file cabinet - hmmmmmmmmmmmm paper but again this is a special bin.

We have dog beds or an old sheet or towel down in most rooms. He will nearly always lay on a 'square' versus just anywhere, if there is no square he is clearly unsettled about what to do

We have slobber towels in a couple of places - one in the kitchen and one on the porch. He is 'allowed' to steal those and nibble them and yes they are slobber towels - he knows to go over to one after he's had a drink

We used to have potpourri, no more

We used to have a copper pot near the fireplace full of wood and pine cones..........no more

He will not get up for end of the night business unless you open the cottage cheese (or yogurt) tub - he will pretend sleep until you do. And he can hear it from anywhere

You have to share your banana, period. You may say you won't, but you will, trust me

 Oh these are great!!!

Before Dodger, we could have all doors open and the dining room not blocked off. After Dodger..... Well the bathroom door has to be shut and latched other wise he'll play in the toilet and steal the paper. Putting it up or closing the lid won't do anything cuz he'll use the closed lid to get on the bathroom counter then open the toilet lid... Got a baby gate up in the dining room now.... To many good things to eat..

Used to have cardboard boxes for recycling papers.. No more...

Used to have a garbage can for empties.. No more... 

Used to have the laundry hamper on the floor.. no more... 

LMAO!

kpwlee

You have to share your banana, period. You may say you won't, but you will, trust me

Ha ha haaaaaa!  

 Oh my, you all are bringing back "puppy memories"!  Caleb is really good about not getting into things he shouldn't with a couple of exceptions-

Socks-  if they're on the floor, it's a good bet that, at some point, Caleb will be standing in front of one of us with them in his mouth.  If I bring a clean pair down to put on later, I push them into the toe of my sneakers.

Slippers- despite having 100+ toys sitting around in hampers and on the floor, Caleb will still pick up one of my slippers and carry it around when excited.  Usually it's when you first walk in the door.  Luckily he's gotten to the point that he remembers where he left it, so I can ask him to get it and put it back where I leave them by the phone.

kpwlee

 ...You have to share your banana, period. You may say you won't, but you will, trust me 

LOL  Same here, although it's all me.  And I usually end up sharing with the rabbit, too.  It's just so hard not giving him something he loves.  If I chose not to share, tho (Heaven forbid!), Caleb will go lay down when told to.

 This thread is SO MUCH FUN!  Thanks Callie, for getting us started!

calliecritturs

Last night I came to the bedroom to coordinate something with David

I wasn't sure if I should keep reading this thread after I read that, Callie !!!

Jamison has taught me to never ever leave a laundry basket that contains a bra on the floor or anywhere he can reach it.  It's like he has an inner bra radar.

Deb W.

iluvjamison

calliecritturs

Last night I came to the bedroom to coordinate something with David

 

I wasn't sure if I should keep reading this thread after I read that, Callie !!!

No -- no talk there, Deb!! 

At the time, the man was playing his cigarbox guitar -- it's the gathering place for dogs at my house.  They all love to sit on the bed while he plays!  His own built-in audience! LOL

As he got older, Max mellowed out to the point where he's pretty reliable with the exception of two things .... eraseable pens and human food.  If I'm leaving somethig out to thaw, I have to remember to put it inside the microwave and not leave it on the counter. All he wants out of the pens are the erasers. I just find empty, chewed up tops here and there unless I remember to put the pen where he can't reach it.

Joyce

But Joyce -- if it's too hard for ya Max'll take care of it.  No waste there!!  And ... gee, you never make mistakes ANYWAY do ya??

(running away fast before I get smacked w/ the xX4)

Callie, I would totally freak out if I had the puzzles in the newspaper on my lap and no pen with an eraser in sight.  I find the erasers when I scoop the yard, but they're past being useful in any way.

Joyce