Dogs do not get much credit for being smart animals as compared to say cats or even pigs for that matter. Let me tell you that indeed not all dogs are thinkers but some are. Case in point is my dog Figs.
Figs is an Australian Shepherd, a breed that is known to be smarter than the average. When he was a puppy I made sure to keep him off the bed at night while we slept. He was allowed to come on before the light went off and he was allowed to come on when we both woke up. This worked beautifully until I went home at the beginning of this month.
When I went home I left a vacancy on the left side of the bed. This vacancy as Figs thought, could be filled with his body. I mean who wouldn’t want to sleep on a cushy bed compared to the floor? So for the 4 days I was home, he filled my half the bed.
Upon my return and still to this day there seems to be some confusion on who gets to sleep in the bed. Figs still jumps off when the light goes off but he finds his way back on. Sometimes it’s subtle like he’ll jump over you (or on you) to get to the middle, squeezing in between me and Amanda. Or sometimes he’ll sit, looking at you while you sleep until you flinch. Once you show a sign of being awake he lets out a lick or a low whine to let you know he wants on. It truly is hard to sleep with someone (or dog) sitting 6” from your face watching your every move while you dream.
At first this seemed cute as we all shared the bed. But now, after 3 big weeks of training and lack of getting a full nights rest, it’s starting to take a toll on my body. Now I’ve got to put the kibosh to these little episodes. He will re-learn not to come up as he is smart enough to figure out that when he is thrown off the bed by me, he knows that he is unwanted at the moment. But it’s going to take a few more days to do this. And a few more nights of crappy sleep.
My advice to all you people out there, never under any circumstances leave your house alone with just your significant other and the dog. They will pair up against you and make you seem like your the bad person for leaving.
Yes I’m going to be in the dog house tonight, but at least I’ll get a full nights sleep!
Happy (YAWN) Training!
Cliff
lol Been there got that tshirt … being pushed outta bed by dawg who’s feet were planted on the wall and SHOVING me off the edge … had a marrow bone buried under my pillow too. Wait’ll you have kids and have 3 more bodies looking for space.
Wonder what Mom, Dad and Stella are going to face!! Soooo cute at a few weeks old, but then??????