We need a new reality show….(we don’t have enough, right?!) You have heard of “Are you Smarter than 5th Grader?”…how about “Are you Smarter than Your Beardie?”
I play this on a daily basis. Every day the dogs go out to do their thing, wander the yard, check on the neighbors, etc. The boys are usually pretty good about coming back in (mostly because they are big Mama’s boys and want to make sure the other one doesn’t get too much attention) but Maddie likes to be convinced. Depending on what I am doing and how much I want her back in the house, the game varies.
“Maddie, where’s my pretty girl ?”(in a sing-song version of course)
A couple minutes later….”Maddie, Mommy has work to do, come, come , coooome” (still singing-keep that happy voice).
…and a few minutes later… ”MADDIE! Here we go! ” (I am done singing) ……
Now, the next part of this varies. I can either bribe her, or go outside and get her to come in.
“Vanna, what did she choose?”
“Let’s take Bribery for 10.00.” (yes, I know I am mixing up my game shows)
“Maddie, come get a carrot (or birthday cake or cookie, although carrot is the stand-by — she will do anything for those).” In a few seconds I hear the pitty-pat of little Beardie feet as she makes her way to the door. I guess I lost that round, although I did get her in the house (but she did get a treat).
Let’s say I go outside to bring her in. She is usually waiting on the far side of the yard, sitting there, waiting to see what my next move will be. As I move closer to her she gets up and starts moving farther away from me. I put my head down and keep walking, moving in a circle around her, and by doing so, slowly work her toward the door. (see, I know how to herd!) Then, when she gets close enough to the door, my arms go out and I say “OK, that’s enough, let’s go in.” She will run for the stairs and when we get to the door, I tell her she is a good girl and we go in. I think I won that one, but she did get me to come out and “play”, so I’m not so sure…..
OK, here’s another one. I have to go into the way-back machine for this one. (some of you may know this story, but it is still funny)
Gracie was from my first litter of Beardies about 12 years ago. I kept her; she was just so “Beardie” to me and we just connected right from the first day. Anyway, she was about 10 weeks old or so, and I had her gated in the kitchen. I would go out and do my dishes, etc, and get my cleaning supplies.
At the time (notice I said ”at the time”) I had this big red feather duster. I could see Gracie eyeing it as I moved around the kitchen. I had to go into the other room, and thought, well she isn’t going to get this. I carefully put it in the middle of my long pine table in the kitchen (the kind with benches) and left the room for 5 minutes. Gracie was sitting in the middle of the kitchen.
When I came back she was still in the exact same spot. There was one slight difference……RED FEATHERS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are on the table, the floor, the counters, all over HER, woven into her fur, and some are gently wafting their way to the ground. I do wish I had gotten a picture of that. Her expression was simply…”What? I don’t notice anything?”
Then there is Mac…..and Traveler…and …hmmmm. Maybe I don’t want to play. Why would I want to play a game that I LOSE all the time. Oh wait, I do it everyday…right.
Well maybe it has its up sides.
Laughter, fun, friends, Love,………I guess I do win after all.
Val