Dog training...

RickinNYC

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
7,870
Bill, our loveable yet temperamental, constantly smiling yet always STARING, lazy but you-gotta-play-NOW-NOW-NOW-NOW, half black lab and half corgi mutt, has chosen yet again to bring me to new levels of befuddlement I've never thought possible. He's a dog for cryin' out loud. Sure, I may have mistaken my carry on for him, yes, I may have embarrassed him by walking him about the neighborhood in my boxers, but he's a dog. How he is able to make me want to sell him to the gypsies for pocket change and old Richie Rich comic books, yet still want to have a throw down and cuddle on the living room floor is beyond me.

Last night I was washing the dishes after a great dinner. Joe was at the table chatting on the phone while I was scrubbing away at an encrusted casserole dish. Bill, meanwhile, was pacing frantically around my feet, grunting in irritation that I hadn't given him a treat at this point. His Beggin' Strips, ridiculously overpriced organic hand made by friggin' angels peanut butter bon bons (I didn't buy them, JOE did) and Milk Bones (those I bought, Joe not so much) are stored in tupperware containers under the sink. Bill immediately feels if you are standing within a five foot perimeter of said sink, it is your responsibility to give him a treat. The very idea that I was standing right AT the cabinet door, my knees bonking the woodfacing, was apparently just too much for his little doggie mind to fathom.

So what does he do? He plops down to the left of me, sits up on his hind legs, forepaws crossed cavalierly in front like a mini T Rex, his big rootbeer brown eyes sparkling in anticipation, mouth agape, tongue lolling about, his breath huffing out in deep gasps of excitement. I ignored him, my hands were covered in soap suds and soggy burnt up mac'n'cheese goo. So he moves to the other side and resumes position, this time much closer, with a slightly less sparkly eyed look. I ignored him again. He chooses that moment to sloooooowly lower his forepaws to the floor and glare. He moves back to the left side and glares and pads back over to the right.

Realizing I was completely ignoring him, Bill once again lifts up, sitting as pretty as can be, eyes ablaze with indignation, and he gives a slight woof huff sound, opens his mouths and utters a plaintive but clearly irritated wooooooo! noise. I look down and tell him, "Bill, leave me alone." That usually makes him walk slowly away, tail down, huffing to himself about how life was so unfair. This time, for whatever reason was pinging around his big dog head, he chose to ignore me. Eye for an eye I guess, eh?

So he moves back to the left side, stands up on his hind legs like a miniature pony flailing its legs into the air, but in slow motion. Any loving looks he might have had, any glances of adoration or respect, any big goofy doggie grins were absolutely gone. This dude meant business. He was looking straight at me, standing up tall and strong (up to my waist or just shy of it actually), glaring with every ounce of dog spirit he could muster and he slooooowly leaned in and WALLOPED me in my particulars! The dang dog hit my.... unmentionables!!!

I was so stunned and not in just a little bit of discomfort, I almost dropped the stupid cheese-burnt-on casserole dish. Joe, still on the phone, muttered "what the... hold on a sec... Did he just hit you in the..., the... just to get a treat?"

"YES!" I grunted.

Joe's reaction? "Well, you better give him one then, and you better make it snappy!" to which he sealed the deal with woops of laughter as he relayed what happened to who ever he was talking to. "Our dog just kicked Rick in the ----!"

Bill, on the other hand, was now sitting quietly, tail lightly thumping the refrigerator behind him, smiling his doggie smile, waiting for his treat with patience and an evil glimmer. What could I do? He trained me well. I gave him a stupid Beggin' Strip.
 
I tell ya it's a black lab thing! My lab/shepherd mix used to bite me there when she wanted to go for a walk and I was being lazy on the couch drinkin' a beer!

She knew what she was doing though. Just like Bill, she got what she wanted! :rotfl2:
 
Seriously? I think this is payback for mistaking the poor guy for your carry on luggage. :rotfl2: Oh, you made me laugh, Rick!

When Bill was doing his tricks to get your attention he reminded me of our golden at the vet's. The vet tech always gives her a treat. She picked up the jar and then DH asked her a question. She stood there with her hand on the treat jar and began talking. Meanwhile, poor Sunny lays down, sits, lays down, sits, raises her paw to shake, lays down. :lmao: Then she looks at me like "What the heck do I have to do to get a treat around here?" I mean, that was her entire repertoire. :teeth:
 

:rotfl2: Maybe that's payback for calling him Billbo. :rotfl:
 
you say it like it's a weird thing...that's what I do :teeth:
 
LMBO. Just be careful! If your dog is like mine, he will figure out that you will give him a treat lickity split if he bonks your .... and he will do it every chance he gets!
 
Hercules10 said:
HEY! Wha happun'd to your sexy little stick figures????
Speaketh not of the unmentionables. :ssst:
 
Rick I just love you! You don't know how much I needed that laugh this afternoon. Sorry it was at your expense but I feel so much better now.

:goodvibes
 
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: Now this laugh I really needed today.

Myst
 
Sounds like he taught you a new trick - fall over and act like you are dying!! :lmao:
 
Someday Rick, when someone mentions "what was the funniest thread", this one will be on the list. Thank you! :rotfl:
 
:rotfl2: :lmao: You have a way with words, my friend. And Bill is one smart cookie.
 
Did you kick him back? I know that could be a little difficult but not impossible from a fetal position. Now if he's fixed it wouldn't be as effective, but it might explain why he's 'out to get you'.
 
FroggyinArk said:
The Book Comes Out When????????

Book?? Rick your life could be a mini series. :teeth:

That's the best laugh I've had all day. :rotfl:
 
No time to write a big ol' book. And aside from about a half dozen folks that might read it, two of which would be Mom and Dad, it'd end up in the sale bin at Barnes & Noble.
 
RickinNYC said:
No time to write a big ol' book. And aside from about a half dozen folks that might read it, two of which would be Mom and Dad, it'd end up in the sale bin at Barnes & Noble.
Are you kidding me? With all the DISers who love your stories? Not a chance, bud. You need to get crackin' and start writing.
 
SillyMe said:
Are you kidding me? With all the DISers who love your stories? Not a chance, bud. You need to get crackin' and start writing.

EXACTLY!!!
 

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