Pics added 08-18-2005
He doesn’t speak English, but he understands quite a bit of it, mostly words related to food. He knows how we spell b-o-n-e, and one of his favorite words is soup.
His version of soup isn’t the canned or homemade variety we eat, but the stuff that results when we deglaze the pan with water after cooking plain meat, then let it cool. We eat lean cuts of meat, so it’s not full of fat, just meat flavor and water. Sometimes we add a bite or two of leftover meat. He adores it, and it’s one of the few human foods he’s allowed, because he has a touchy stomach. Actually it’s not a human food—we never eat plain weak broth, ourselves. But because we call his version “soup” every time he hears the word “soup” he hopes for some.
Early on he developed a love of trash, the more fragrant the better, and of course we worked at training him out of getting into the trash. He got blamed whenever we found trash on the floor, when he was young, and I’m sure rightly so for the most part, because to this day he can barely pass a wastebasket without his big nose veering in that direction. He’s well aware of the meaning of “No trash.” He heard it often as a puppy.
One day, a few years ago, he came into the bedroom and clearly wanted my attention. It was one of those moments when you remember Timmy saying, “What is it, Lassie?” He danced around, whined, and nodded his head in the direction of the bedroom door. There was no mistake that he was saying, “Follow me, right now.” So I followed. He led me out to the kitchen. There I found the cat with her nose buried deep in the trash as she pulled used paper towels out with her paws.
These days we don’t presume either one is innocent (or guilty) of any unsolved household crime. We keep a lid on the kitchen booty, and we’re careful what we say in their presence. I know there are pet psychologists out there. Do you suppose there’s a Closer for pets?
Update 08-18-2005
Named Independence because we brought him home on Fourth of July. Original, huh? He’s only two years older now than when this was taken, but much grayer under the chin.
1.
This is an absolutely “precious” slice of life, Barbara. Simply sweet and precious! I love it!
Comment by Patty Ann Smith — August 17, 2005 @ 8:18 pm
2.
Awwww, adorable, and that’s just like the commercial! Only the little beast gets caught in your version; I absolutely love it. I hope you gave the kitty what-for in front of the dog. Photos of both, please!!
Comment by Bev Jackson — August 18, 2005 @ 7:44 am
3.
Delightful! So well told.
Comment by Reenie — August 18, 2005 @ 9:48 am
4.
Our cat has developed a soup craving too. In her case, one day during our hideously hot summer, she seemed to be running to her litter box in distress with no results. Irritation due to not drinking enough water we figured. So we mixed the tinned food she gets for a treat with water, to fool her into drinking more, which made a rather horrible looking turkey giblet soup. Not only cured the complaint but now she doesn’t want to eat the tinned food until the water’s been put into it.
Comment by Eric Mayer — August 18, 2005 @ 10:32 am
5.
What beautiful pets. And very smart too. I guess that episode taught you to be careful who you blamed in the future.
Cas
Comment by cassie-b — August 19, 2005 @ 8:03 am
6.
That’s just classic, Barbara! We lost our “trash hound” back in February at the age of almost-16, but the habits he taught us still live on. We still keep the kitchen trashcan in the garage. The two younger dogs don’t pay any attention to it, but we’ve been trained.
Comment by blogdog — August 20, 2005 @ 6:46 am
7.
How did your dog learn all that? Our dog knew the word for cheese and that was about it!
Comment by violetismycolor — August 22, 2005 @ 7:33 pm
8.
Jasmine, the dog of the house, was trained early to sit-stay while her food was being put down in its spot. Now when she’s hungry, she will plant her bottom on the kitchen floor and look meaningfully at the empty dish. She swivels the nose to follow me while I get her food, nearly falling over in her efforts to keep the bottom planted while keeping me in sight. Who has whom trained? When I see her sitting, I know I have to feed her.
Enjoyed the pictures. I have a gray cat, too. She likes the dog’s food and has been known to nose Jasmine out of the bowl when she wants to eat it herself. Jasmine politely backs off and waits her turn! Now we know who’s boss.
Comment by Sarah — August 23, 2005 @ 9:07 am
9.
A delightful story, and what a clever fellow! You can almost imagine him saying, “Look… Emily’s in the trash!” Or, “see, it isn’t me… it’s Emily!”
Comment by Sara — December 11, 2007 @ 12:10 pm