TEXTILES!

TEXTILES

Frax loves toys, just as most domesticated dogs do. He loves dissecting them and eviscerating the squeaker as well. He's never been allowed to eat one, to his dismay and discontent.

Now he is developing a decided bent towards the enjoyment of textiles. Perhaps in a previous life he worked with them, or was a designer!

Recently, he 'made' himself a toy out of his Aunt Cheryl's purple scarf, that was on the back of the couch, awaiting wrapping. He says he couldn't help himself~ it was braided just like the tugs on the training doors...it brought back fun memories, and couldn't we do the same thing with the purple toy he had 'made'? (He wasn't 'caught in the act' of stealing the scarf, the scarf was found outside on the deck a few days later, so it was pointless to recommend he not steal things again!) Frax is so smart, I sometimes forget that he can and will get into mischief just like any other dog, in this case because of a fond memory. I would never want to extinguish his ability to open doors by tuggin on a braided scarf!

So, of course we are now using the 'tug' command, even though I haven't needed it. Frax has nearly 100 commands that he can do, obviously we don't need him to do them all. Tugging open doors isn't necessary, so we haven't been doing that command. Obviously, it's a big fun hit with him though! We will have to keep tabs on the refrigerator door now....

So, we have fun with 'toy' and play tug. Recently, I added “bunny” to his esoteric toy collection. Bunny is a white polartec scarf that just did not work out well this season (I bought it at Good Will for less than a dollar!) It had one large button which I clipped off, then I threaded the other end through the button-hole, and fashioned a head and ears of a sort. He loves it! He has been proudly gamboling around the house with Bunny, convinced once again, if he chews and tosses it around enough, he will find a squeaker!

I watch Frax with all his toys, he's monitored because he is such a strong chewer, other than a King Kong, I wouldn't trust leaving him with any toy. When I'm here monitoring, that's when he can play with Bunny and Toy, and his 'bony bone'. He also has one remarkable larger ball with nubs on it that he cannot get to the squeaker. He hardly glances at it! So his pile of riches increases with each day!

Exhausted at my feet, Frax is snoozing peacefully after playing with the exciting bunny toy. Don't you wish that life were so uncomplicated for each of us?