Monday, May 14, 2007
The Disobedient Dog
Yesterday provided lots of evidence that Oreo is not an obedient dog. Things started off well with an early walk at the local dog run. Oreo was off leash for half an hour and came when called at the end of the walk. When we got home, however, his cooperative demeanor changed.
Usually when I let Oreo out of the car, I hold his leash just in case he might think about bolting. But I figured by now he was so used to getting out of the car in the carport and immediately heading in the front door of our house that I didn't need to grab his leash. Big mistake.
As soon as Oreo got out of the car, he spotted a rabbit on our front lawn and was off. He raced across the street and into a neighbor's backyard in a futile attempt to catch the bunny. And I quickly followed behind yelling "Oreo, come back!" and frantically shaking his treat bag.
Of course, all my efforts were in vain. Once Oreo finally gave up on the rabbit chase, he bolted across the street and started exploring another neighbor's backyard. He completely ignored my commands and then headed for another backyard.
When he decided that he'd had enough fun, he headed for our carport and waited for me to let him in the house. I think he was looking for a treat given that I had been waving his treat bag for the last ten minutes. Needless to say, he did not get one.
Later that day, Oreo gave Cheryl a hard time. She took him for a walk at a local wooded area where he decided to take off on his own in the woods. Cheryl kept calling but he wouldn't come back. Eventually, of course, he returned when he decided it was time. Except he was covered in white flaky stuff of unknown origin that necessitated an unscheduled afternoon bath.
Last night, we experienced the third leg of Oreo's Sunday trifecta. Cheryl got up about midnight and closed the door to the spare room. A few minutes later, I got up and I thought I heard something in the spare room. So I opened the door and there was Oreo. Apparently he had decided to spend the night on the spare room bed. I politely directed him to his own bed on the kitchen floor and said good night to our disobedient dog.
Usually when I let Oreo out of the car, I hold his leash just in case he might think about bolting. But I figured by now he was so used to getting out of the car in the carport and immediately heading in the front door of our house that I didn't need to grab his leash. Big mistake.
As soon as Oreo got out of the car, he spotted a rabbit on our front lawn and was off. He raced across the street and into a neighbor's backyard in a futile attempt to catch the bunny. And I quickly followed behind yelling "Oreo, come back!" and frantically shaking his treat bag.
Of course, all my efforts were in vain. Once Oreo finally gave up on the rabbit chase, he bolted across the street and started exploring another neighbor's backyard. He completely ignored my commands and then headed for another backyard.
When he decided that he'd had enough fun, he headed for our carport and waited for me to let him in the house. I think he was looking for a treat given that I had been waving his treat bag for the last ten minutes. Needless to say, he did not get one.
Later that day, Oreo gave Cheryl a hard time. She took him for a walk at a local wooded area where he decided to take off on his own in the woods. Cheryl kept calling but he wouldn't come back. Eventually, of course, he returned when he decided it was time. Except he was covered in white flaky stuff of unknown origin that necessitated an unscheduled afternoon bath.
Last night, we experienced the third leg of Oreo's Sunday trifecta. Cheryl got up about midnight and closed the door to the spare room. A few minutes later, I got up and I thought I heard something in the spare room. So I opened the door and there was Oreo. Apparently he had decided to spend the night on the spare room bed. I politely directed him to his own bed on the kitchen floor and said good night to our disobedient dog.
