I've told y'll before that Khan is cutting our guest dog Pan no slack.
I have a question that arises from that. In the mornings and evenings,
we give each of them a rawhide to chew on. The very first day, after
she had only gnawed on hers for a few minutes, Pan attempted to thieve
Khan's by pretending to want to play and sneak in and nip it while he
was distracted. The humans were fooled, Khan less so, and he told her
to back off on no uncertain terms. She did, and all was well.

Since then, whenever rawhides come out, he wants them all. With other
guest dogs we've had, there is always some amount of switcharoo going
on, each one wanting what the other has, but that has been sort of
mutual, and they come out even at the end of the day. This time, he
wants to sit and chew on one, but wants the other one right under his
nose, and will go get Pan's chewie the moment her back is turned, and
growl at her under his breath if she goes anywhere near him. Last
night, whenever he attempted to coopt all the chewies, I basically said
'That's enough' and put them all away, at which point his attention
turned to the toys, which I put away before anyone showed too much
interest in it. For the first time ever, Khan actually attempted to
jump up and get the chewie off the top of the shelf, which is very
uncharacteristic of him.

DH is of the opinion that this is Khan's house, he gets to set the
rules, and Pan is basically abiding by the rules, although she's not
happy about it. I am of the opinion that this is our house, we set the
rules, and if someone acts overly possessive of something, that
something goes away immediately. I would like to eliminate the rawhide
business altogether, but their breaths suffer greatly without routine
chewing.

Other than this one thing, the dog sitting is going great. They eat
their food and turkey necks sitting side by side, wait their turns for
treats, and Pan is so mellow and well behaved, it is almost like we only
have one dog in the house.

Suja

Suja wrote:
DH is of the opinion that this is Khan's house, he gets to set the
rules, and Pan is basically abiding by the rules, although she's not
happy about it. I am of the opinion that this is our house, we set the
rules, and if someone acts overly possessive of something, that
something goes away immediately.

You're right, but you knew that.

You should try four dogs with rawhides. It's like watching a demented
sleight-of-hand routine. Sam takes his chewie to his crate, Duke drops
his chewie for a drink, Ranger steals Duke's chewie, Sam sneaks off with
Ranger's discarded chewie, Lindy drops her chewie to bark at Sam's
sneakiness, Ranger steals Lindy's chewie, I hand Duke's chewie back to
him, drag Sam's initial chewie out of his crate and give it to Lindy,
but Sam's just cruised past Duke and stolen a THIRD chewie ...

This goes on, with variations, until I put everyone on down-stays in
separate parts of the room. Occasionally, I'll get distracted only to
look up and find Sam, surrounded by rawhides, contentedly gnawing on the
most specialist one while three pairs of eyes glare at me. "MOM! Sam
took our chewies!"

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

Suja wrote:
DH is of the opinion that this is Khan's house, he gets to set the
rules, and Pan is basically abiding by the rules, although she's not
happy about it. I am of the opinion that this is our house, we set the
rules, and if someone acts overly possessive of something, that
something goes away immediately.

You're right, but you knew that.

You should try four dogs with rawhides. It's like watching a demented
sleight-of-hand routine. Sam takes his chewie to his crate, Duke drops
his chewie for a drink, Ranger steals Duke's chewie, Sam sneaks off with
Ranger's discarded chewie, Lindy drops her chewie to bark at Sam's
sneakiness, Ranger steals Lindy's chewie, I hand Duke's chewie back to
him, drag Sam's initial chewie out of his crate and give it to Lindy,
but Sam's just cruised past Duke and stolen a THIRD chewie ...

This goes on, with variations, until I put everyone on down-stays in
separate parts of the room. Occasionally, I'll get distracted only to
look up and find Sam, surrounded by rawhides, contentedly gnawing on the
most specialist one while three pairs of eyes glare at me. "MOM! Sam
took our chewies!"

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003, Suja wrote:

DH is of the opinion that this is Khan's house, he gets to
set the rules, and Pan is basically abiding by the rules,
although she's not happy about it. I am of the opinion that
this is our house, we set the rules, and if someone acts
overly possessive of something, that something goes away
immediately. I would like to eliminate the rawhide business
altogether, but their breaths suffer greatly without routine
chewing.

if it were me, i would do what you've done, and take away the
prized object(s). Little Miss Piggy Head has enough trouble
understanding that she's not the boss of everybody. i don't
see anything to be gained by catering to that misconception.
it *is* my house, i *do* have to make sure everyone gets along
peacefully, and i *will* take away toys/bones/chewies if
anyone (um, harriet) gets uppity.

Other than this one thing, the dog sitting is going great.
They eat their food and turkey necks sitting side by side,
wait their turns for treats, and Pan is so mellow and well
behaved, it is almost like we only have one dog in the house.

i'm glad to hear things are going well! i read your previous
posts about her (the crab-stuffy-pillow-on-the-bed story
cracked me up!). i meant to respond, but managed to delete
the whole group before i could (one of the few complaints i
have about Pine). anyway, it's good to hear that things are
going well, and that Pan's SA isn't giving you (or her) fits.
i imagine it'll give her owner much-needed peace of mind to
know that she's okay with you.

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003, Suja wrote:

DH is of the opinion that this is Khan's house, he gets to
set the rules, and Pan is basically abiding by the rules,
although she's not happy about it. I am of the opinion that
this is our house, we set the rules, and if someone acts
overly possessive of something, that something goes away
immediately. I would like to eliminate the rawhide business
altogether, but their breaths suffer greatly without routine
chewing.

if it were me, i would do what you've done, and take away the
prized object(s). Little Miss Piggy Head has enough trouble
understanding that she's not the boss of everybody. i don't
see anything to be gained by catering to that misconception.
it *is* my house, i *do* have to make sure everyone gets along
peacefully, and i *will* take away toys/bones/chewies if
anyone (um, harriet) gets uppity.

Other than this one thing, the dog sitting is going great.
They eat their food and turkey necks sitting side by side,
wait their turns for treats, and Pan is so mellow and well
behaved, it is almost like we only have one dog in the house.

i'm glad to hear things are going well! i read your previous
posts about her (the crab-stuffy-pillow-on-the-bed story
cracked me up!). i meant to respond, but managed to delete
the whole group before i could (one of the few complaints i
have about Pine). anyway, it's good to hear that things are
going well, and that Pan's SA isn't giving you (or her) fits.
i imagine it'll give her owner much-needed peace of mind to
know that she's okay with you.

--
shelly (perfectly foul wench) and elliott and harriet
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette

shelly wrote:

have about Pine). anyway, it's good to hear that things are
going well, and that Pan's SA isn't giving you (or her) fits.

Oh, she gets worried. According to DH, she is unhappy if I leave,
although he is still in the house. But, it isn't to the degree that
she'll reject her breakfast or get destructive, which is good. I've
been keeping the comings and goings as very low key affairs (I think
that might be part of the problem). She is so happy to see me when I
return that she'll jump up, do circles around me while rubbing up
against my legs, her tail going a mile a minute, and with that 'I
LOOOOVE YOOO' adoration in her eyes. I barely greet her, am very matter
of fact, let the dogs out to pee right away (which takes away from the
whole greeting ritual methinks), and she's starting to chill out a bit.

i imagine it'll give her owner much-needed peace of mind to
know that she's okay with you.

I'm telling everyone I know how easy she is, so there could be other
volunteers if we're not able to take her. She's just about as easy as
any dog can be and still have a pulse.

Suja

shelly wrote:

have about Pine). anyway, it's good to hear that things are
going well, and that Pan's SA isn't giving you (or her) fits.

Oh, she gets worried. According to DH, she is unhappy if I leave,
although he is still in the house. But, it isn't to the degree that
she'll reject her breakfast or get destructive, which is good. I've
been keeping the comings and goings as very low key affairs (I think
that might be part of the problem). She is so happy to see me when I
return that she'll jump up, do circles around me while rubbing up
against my legs, her tail going a mile a minute, and with that 'I
LOOOOVE YOOO' adoration in her eyes. I barely greet her, am very matter
of fact, let the dogs out to pee right away (which takes away from the
whole greeting ritual methinks), and she's starting to chill out a bit.

i imagine it'll give her owner much-needed peace of mind to
know that she's okay with you.

I'm telling everyone I know how easy she is, so there could be other
volunteers if we're not able to take her. She's just about as easy as
any dog can be and still have a pulse.

Suja

Mary Healey wrote:

You're right, but you knew that.

Well, it sure as heck seems like it. A lot. Unfortunately, DH is not
really listening to me on this one, and if I put the rawhides away,
he'll go and get it down for "his boy".

You should try four dogs with rawhides. It's like watching a demented
sleight-of-hand routine. Sam takes his chewie to his crate, Duke drops
his chewie for a drink, Ranger steals Duke's chewie, Sam sneaks off with
Ranger's discarded chewie, Lindy drops her chewie to bark at Sam's
sneakiness, Ranger steals Lindy's chewie, I hand Duke's chewie back to
him, drag Sam's initial chewie out of his crate and give it to Lindy,
but Sam's just cruised past Duke and stolen a THIRD chewie ...

LOL! Sounds like great entertainment. Wonder if Sam's ability to
thieve can be put to good (or bad) use.

This goes on, with variations, until I put everyone on down-stays in
separate parts of the room. Occasionally, I'll get distracted only to
look up and find Sam, surrounded by rawhides, contentedly gnawing on the
most specialist one while three pairs of eyes glare at me. "MOM! Sam
took our chewies!"

They know that Mom can make everything allright again. That's sweet.

Suja

Mary Healey wrote:

You're right, but you knew that.

Well, it sure as heck seems like it. A lot. Unfortunately, DH is not
really listening to me on this one, and if I put the rawhides away,
he'll go and get it down for "his boy".

You should try four dogs with rawhides. It's like watching a demented
sleight-of-hand routine. Sam takes his chewie to his crate, Duke drops
his chewie for a drink, Ranger steals Duke's chewie, Sam sneaks off with
Ranger's discarded chewie, Lindy drops her chewie to bark at Sam's
sneakiness, Ranger steals Lindy's chewie, I hand Duke's chewie back to
him, drag Sam's initial chewie out of his crate and give it to Lindy,
but Sam's just cruised past Duke and stolen a THIRD chewie ...

LOL! Sounds like great entertainment. Wonder if Sam's ability to
thieve can be put to good (or bad) use.

This goes on, with variations, until I put everyone on down-stays in
separate parts of the room. Occasionally, I'll get distracted only to
look up and find Sam, surrounded by rawhides, contentedly gnawing on the
most specialist one while three pairs of eyes glare at me. "MOM! Sam
took our chewies!"

They know that Mom can make everything allright again. That's sweet.

Suja

Suja wrote:

DogStar716 wrote:

Or, you could put Khan on a tie down while they have their chewies

Except DH is a poopie head and won't let me. Maybe I should put him in
a tie down and do whatever I want.

Suja

That sounds like a plan.

Gwen