Last night when we went to bed, all the dogs were in bed with us, but our little Peanut was slow getting there, and Scooter (a bigger dog) got her favorite spot in my lap first. To add insult to injury, Chewie (who does not give up toys without a struggle) was chewing on Peanut's favorite toy, a small stuffed fox that she likes to use as a pillow. Peanut loves that fox - once we lie down and it is clear to her we are going to sleep, she unfailingly goes out into the darkness of our home and brings the fox back to bed. If it is left outside but visible through the sliding glass door, she will bark until we come open the door for her.
But last night no such luck. Peanut sat on the edge of the bed, and wouldn't even come when we called her. Looking back, I think she was planning something all along.
We were watching TV before going to sleep, and a commercial came on where someone rings a doorbell. Peanut must have thought - 'Here's my chance.' after a very brief delay, she sat bolt upright and let out a bark. All the other dogs perked up. She barked again, and leaped down her doggie stairs from the bed onto the floor, and charged towards the front door, barking like crazy. All the other dogs likewise went into a barking frenzy and launched themselves out of the bedroom, following her.
The only thing is, Peanut must have turned right around after they passed her. Less than two seconds later, she climbed back up into bed, with the fox in her mouth, and settled into her favorite, and now vacant, spot in my lap. She was already curled up with the fox under her head by the time the other dogs filtered back in half a minute later.
A coincidence? Dogs always react to the doorbell sound by charging the front door? That same commercial came on two more times, and a doorbell rang twice on the show we were watching. Peanut was clearly still awake, but didn't budge again. Didn't even turn an ear or raise her head. After all, what did she need another diversion for?
I think that dog might be quite a bit smarter than we give her credit for.
Last night when we went to bed, all the dogs were in bed with us, but our little Peanut was slow getting there, and Scooter (a bigger dog) got her favorite spot in my lap first. To add insult to injury, Chewie (who does not give up toys without a struggle) was chewing on Peanut's favorite toy, a small stuffed fox that she likes to use as a pillow. Peanut loves that fox - once we lie down and it is clear to her we are going to sleep, she unfailingly goes out into the darkness of our home and brings the fox back to bed. If it is left outside but visible through the sliding glass door, she will bark until we come open the door for her.
But last night no such luck. Peanut sat on the edge of the bed, and wouldn't even come when we called her. Looking back, I think she was planning something all along.
We were watching TV before going to sleep, and a commercial came on where someone rings a doorbell. Peanut must have thought - 'Here's my chance.' after a very brief delay, she sat bolt upright and let out a bark. All the other dogs perked up. She barked again, and leaped down her doggie stairs from the bed onto the floor, and charged towards the front door, barking like crazy. All the other dogs likewise went into a barking frenzy and launched themselves out of the bedroom, following her.
The only thing is, Peanut must have turned right around after they passed her. Less than two seconds later, she climbed back up into bed, with the fox in her mouth, and settled into her favorite, and now vacant, spot in my lap. She was already curled up with the fox under her head by the time the other dogs filtered back in half a minute later.
A coincidence? Dogs always react to the doorbell sound by charging the front door? That same commercial came on two more times, and a doorbell rang twice on the show we were watching. Peanut was clearly still awake, but didn't budge again. Didn't even turn an ear or raise her head. After all, what did she need another diversion for?
I think that dog might be quite a bit smarter than we give her credit for.
But last night no such luck. Peanut sat on the edge of the bed, and wouldn't even come when we called her. Looking back, I think she was planning something all along.
We were watching TV before going to sleep, and a commercial came on where someone rings a doorbell. Peanut must have thought - 'Here's my chance.' after a very brief delay, she sat bolt upright and let out a bark. All the other dogs perked up. She barked again, and leaped down her doggie stairs from the bed onto the floor, and charged towards the front door, barking like crazy. All the other dogs likewise went into a barking frenzy and launched themselves out of the bedroom, following her.
The only thing is, Peanut must have turned right around after they passed her. Less than two seconds later, she climbed back up into bed, with the fox in her mouth, and settled into her favorite, and now vacant, spot in my lap. She was already curled up with the fox under her head by the time the other dogs filtered back in half a minute later.
A coincidence? Dogs always react to the doorbell sound by charging the front door? That same commercial came on two more times, and a doorbell rang twice on the show we were watching. Peanut was clearly still awake, but didn't budge again. Didn't even turn an ear or raise her head. After all, what did she need another diversion for?
I think that dog might be quite a bit smarter than we give her credit for.
