Puppy sitting or sitting on puppies

We have in residence for a few days a rambunctious puppy named Alex.

He is a cute little furball who thinks that we are chew toys and personal servants.

Due to his visit, Gypsy is once again polishing up  her best teeth and offering up her finest holiday growls to this tiny interloper who thinks everything is his and  his alone. Gypsy is educating  him otherwise.

New to the world, this little dude has been treated like a furry sultan. Due to injury to his leg and pelvis, he was shunted away to the animal  hospital at the hands of Beth, who has ensured he received proper treatment for his injuries. Concern for his healing and care has prompted the miniscule mutt to be in residence at the Merrill Mutt Motel.

Alex is learning to do his potty chores outdoors. We've had a few accidents on the way to potty training, but that is normal with a puppy just like with a kid. The only difference is that generally there isn't a lot of additional laundry in the attempt until the mangy mutt pees on my slippers. Not cool, Alex, not cool at all!!

Alex has developed a taste (pun intended) for cooking shows on PBS. He cocks his head from side to side trying to discern what the various chefs are attempting to prepare. He sometimes barks at the screen. I believe this to be his way of saying "HEY!! Don't put booze on that steak!" I wholeheartedly share his sentiment.

Alex has also learned that the radio is not some sort of mutant life form. The first day or two, he wasn't too sure about that as he glared at the radio with a jaundiced eye, wary of where those tiny music producing Christmas violins might be hiding.  

The other night, we discovered he had left a "holiday gift" beneath Jared's bed. The aroma was sufficient to lead  us right to the unwrapped present. Alex  had the nerve to smile and laugh his puppy laugh about it.

While I have received some "interesting" gifts during the Christmas season, I can  honestly say this is the first time I wanted to give one back. Well played, Alex, well played.

I'm sure in his tiny evil puppy heart, he was planning on blaming the mess on Jared... or Gypsy. But wise to the ways of wicked pups, Gypsy quickly refused the blame and barked directly on Alex' head.

Out to the pen in the yard to finish emptying the "poop valve" which is apparently attached to a secretly enclose 10 gallon tank, you would have thought we were beating Alex with all the pitiful howling and barking he was doing. The neighbors even came over to see what the ruckus was. Bad dog!

Once they saw Prince Pig in the pen doing  his best "feel sorry for me" impression, they were as unmoved as we were. No one let him  out until his potty chores were complete - for the moment.

Gypsy has been pretty good shepherding Alex around. He now knows that the door out to the back yard is the "potty door". Easily navigating the steps up and down, he is able to go out without us having to carry him like a sack of spaghetti.

What is it about children and dogs??? You pick their formerly solid frame up to relieve the "potty dance" before disaster strikes (generally after a bit of trickling has begun!) and suddenly they are like a Ziplock of Jell-O that no longer  has either bones or the will to move on their own!!

The other day, as Gypsy had decided she had been patient enough with Alex chewing on her and barking and attacking her, she simply sat on him... and smiled. It was like "kid, you bother me". Hilarious! Reminded me of when Nana was guesting in our home and was learning the ropes from the old hand, er, uh, make that old paw.

Right now, the house is deceptively quiet.

Both hounds are sleeping.

It won't last.

Soon, the pizza guy will show up at the nursing home across the street and the revelry will begin. Gypsy HATES the pizza guy. His truck has an annoying whine that must hurt her ears. Plus, he never even offers her so much as a crust from the pizzas.

Then, when the barking starts, Alex will attempt to show you just how big and bad he is. Tiny mouth screwed up into the perfect little "O" he will bark and howl  his bad to the bone self into exhaustion.

Always funny to watch.

Back to the chores of the day. Best let sleeping dogs lie.  They won't be there long.