Tuesday, December 8, 2009

LIFE WITH THE DOGS

Because we have had so much rain lately, I've been inside a lot with only the dogs to keep me company. For various reasons, we have kept Jesse more, so Rufus has been a happy camper, albeit a little jealous at times. But they both have such different personalities that they get along especially well together even after many days.

Jesse is female and acts like it. She is quieter and milder, and is content to sit or snooze for long periods. Rufus, on the other hand, is pure male, getting restless after a period of time and prowls and pokes his nose into things. I always get a little wary during these episodes because that's usually when he gets into trouble. If he's not going to the bathroom somewhere he is getting into the trash or dirty clothes. At times like these, Jesse just watches him but doesn't join in.

In the mornings before he goes to work, the genius takes them out for their first walk. Rufus has a routine that he adheres to every day regardless of whether Jesse is here. He goes out, does his business, and is rewarded with a "greenie" which he grabs and races back to my bed to eat it. Meanwhile, the genius gets his food prepared which is ready and waiting for him when he comes back downstairs. But sometimes the genius does something else like take the trash out, and Rufus thinks he has gone. That's when "the bark like no other" comes forth. It's a short angry yelp that sounds like he's saying, "What the hell!!" (Pardon my French, but it describes very well what I think he feels.)

I get so tickled at him that I almost have trouble going back to sleep. Almost -- but somehow I always manage to drift back off.

1 comment:

Ash said...

I love the "bark like no other" part of that story. In fact, I can almost imagine Daddy doing that just to hear the bark!