Old Dog, New Tricks

Belle is 7-1/2 years old.  We have had her for 1-1/2 years.  After that period of time you think you know your dog pretty well. 

But recently Belle reminded us that she has a few tricks we didn't know about.

We just got back from our getaway in Duluth and stopped at the "spa" (the vet's) to pick her up.  We call it the spa because everyone there is so awesome to her.  She gets a lot of loving by all the girls there, so it is much more than just being kenneled.  Plus "spa" makes us feel less guilty!

When we picked her up from the spa we decided to treat her to a pig's ear. 

I don't understand why these things appeal to dogs, but they do - and they are good for her teeth.

We had to hide it until we got home as the last thing we wanted was wet pig's ear and basset slobber covering the card seat!  She usually lays down and chews it like crazy and it is gone in about 20 minutes. 

Well not this time. 

She seemed restless.... what to do? 

First I found her on the leather sectional...

 and realized she was trying to bury it in this spot between two cushions.  Belle is allowed on the sectional, but not to bury pig ears!  So a firm "no" and "off" was given and she hopped down. 

 I assumed to lay down and chew it.

You know what they say about assuming? 

Yep.

Next I found her in the office.  This is where she sleeps when I work.  We say she is "working" but trust me -  it is sleeping.   We have this fitted flannel sheet over the chair she lays in so we don't constantly have to clean dog fur from the chair fabric.  Have to say the sheet idea was pretty awesome.

Now she had the pig's ear tucked in the corner, and was trying to nose extra sheet over it to cover it.  At first she seemed pleased with the result.  She got down from the chair and went in the hallway.  Then turned around and looked.  She must have realized it was in plain sight and went and got it once again.

She tried the master bedroom, and received another firm "no!"  I did not want to find a soggy pig's ear at bedtime!

Now she was getting desperate, so we let her outside.  She trucked out the door with the pig's ear in her mouth and went in the landscaping next to the deck.  We didn't see the actual burying of the pig's ear, but when she walked away we found this pile of mulch. 

I know it is kind of hard to tell in the picture, but it is between the hosta and the house.  You can see where mulch ISN'T right near the deck - the black landscape fabric is showing. 

As if that wasn't a telltale sign enough, she had mulch on her nose.  A pretty convincing piece of evidence that she had finally found a spot to bury that pig's ear after all. 

She's never buried anything before.  I guess we should just be thrilled she didn't succeed in stuffing it in the sectional.  And we are very thrilled she didn't start digging holes in the backyard. 

The pig's ear has now been buried in 3-4 different spots in the last 36 hours.

Belle is sleeping.  I guess she is at peace with the spot she found for it....

for now. 

So don't ever rule out an old dog coming up with new tricks. :)