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<DIV>On Tuesday he learned how to get something by creating a diversion. We
had deviled beef bones tonight, so he starts sticking his nose around the pan on
the stove, and Kathy gets up to move things. While she is doing that, he jumps
on her chair and starts to clean her plate. He is also starting to show his
displeasure when both of us leave together. Yesterday he grabbed the hot dog
buns, and today he grabbed some candy he bought for his fiance and brought here
to hide. He did not destroy either, just took to let us know he was
annoyed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Then on Wednesday we had more company who were also dog people, but they
have Goldens. He was pretty got that night, as I did not have to keep
on a leash, but not perfect. He would lay on his chair or the floor, and
then quietly make a move for the food table. Sometimes words would work,
other times I would have to get up and get him back. On one of
his attempts he did manage to get a couple of cookies. But his real coup
came at the end of the evening. The guests were leaving, and their parting
words were "You know what you have to do when the dog gets something from the
table, don't you? You roll up a newspaper and hit yourself on the head for
putting the food within his reach." And we both agreed. Well, I see
them out and am locking the door, while Kathy starts to clean up, and each of us
thinks the other is watching Ben, who had been sitting very nicely on his chair,
when he slips off it an goes to the table and grabs a large chunk of her
stollen. I just shudder to think of Christmas Eve at our house.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Douglas </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>