I have three dogs. One, Red, is eager to please. He never steals food, fights over treats, barks loudly, jumps up on sofas, eats my shoes, gnaw on paintbrushes or has accidents anywhere but where they are supposed to go.
And then, there is Bud and Fate, the Bonnie and Clyde of Bedlam Farm, two way-too-smart-for-their-own-good dogs who care little or nothing about what I think, but are full of love and personality. All day, they battle, rob and play with one another.
Yesterday, Fate let Bud on a raiding expedition into the pantry, where treats are stored.
We caught them in the act of pulling one of the bags of rawhide sticks off of the counter. This had to be Fate’s idea, But isn’t big enough to get up there and pull the bag down, Bud was her willing accomplice. As soon as they saw me, they went darting into the living room to get the dining room table between me and them.
There was no remorse, believe me. Dogs in my house are not allowed on the sofas, a rule almost all of the dogs I have ever had understood and obeyed.
These two stay off of the sofas when Maria and I are around. We were both upstairs painting the bedroom tonight (yes, I have been invited back) and when I came downstairs for some water, they were both curled up with each other and sound asleep. They were too far gone to hear me and dive off.
It is brutally cold here, and I can’t fault them for trying to stay warm. The scene was too beautiful for me to disrupt, yet another sign that my dogs are winning the battle for control of the house. If I was a crusty old farmer, there would be hell to pay. I am not a farmer at all.
Still, it lifts the heart to see it. Bud has come a very long way.
Ahh…sweet Fate, still a wild one after all these years. As fate would have it, I just read this blog entry from 2015: https://www.bedlamfarm.com/2015/07/26/loving-a-dog-like-fate/
No wonder they don’t believe you. You’ve laid out a blanket for them to lie on!
It was my blanket..once..:)
Face it, Jon. You can’t win against that kind of cuteness. So smile, shrug and give them a hug. I gave up a long time ago. The furniture may be a little hairy, but I smile more. That’s a win in itself.
My sister follows your blog so I decided it was time for me to read for myself! Love the stories of your amazing dogs and all that goes on at Bedlamfarm!
Welcome…
You have brought back to mind one of the sweetest dogs we ever had, many years ago. Tambo was half chow and very obedient, always with an air of “I do this because I want to” kind of way. He never jumped on our bed = a complete no-no, but then one day we came home early and there right in the middle of our bed was his sticky chewed up tennis ball!
Yep I m with you on this one!oh do I know too well???
Bud does not squander a minute of his second chance at life…what joy it is to witness. It is a story of redemption and so much more. If life has to ‘go to the dogs’ …let it go to the likes of yours.
Hooligans recharging their batteries!