Stories Part Two
Roope helps
Roope is truly helpful: he wants to help us in everything that we do. Cleaning
is especially fun, has been ever since he was a puppy. It was like we were
playing a game. When Roope was small, it was nearly impossible to clean if he
was in the same room.
He bit the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner, tore and pulled the floor-washing cloth and growled at it, and sweeping was especially lovely.I tried to clean in secret, either when he was sleeping or taking a walk. Even now Roope wants to help me clean. Well, he wants to help me in everything. He is very curious! When Roope was a very small puppy, he often helped me putting on trousers and socks (read: slowed me down) by pulling the trousers' leg and stealing socks when ever he had the chance.
Hiding things
When Roope was young, he realised that he could hide treats for future use. The
first time that he did this he ran around with a piece of cheese and hid it into
several places, behind a chair's leg etc. And, after a while, worried, he went
looking for the treat. He was so glad when he found it! Now he has started
storing food from his own cup elsewhere... Corners, the bean-bag chair, sofa...
Luckily he usually eats his storage as well. Sometimes I do find forgotten food
inside the sofa. At one point he understood that he can hide things outside as
well. When the first Frolic had been hidden on the ground, he often had to go
and see if it was still there. When we go out, Roope often wants to take a chew
bone or some other treat with him to hide it outside. Sometimes we argue about
this at the door before we go out.
I'm going slightly mad
Sometimes Roope gets these strange attacks. He runs around, dashing here and
there. It is better to freeze so that we do not crash into each other. Usually
when he gets these "I'm going slightly mad" attacks he grabs a toy, a
cone, a tassel of grass or something similar. He can fell under this madness
inside or outside. Inside, when he has been washed.
Playing
When Roope stole our things or clothes, he only wanted us to go after him and
chase him, to take the "loot" away. It is still fun, no matter who
chases him, a human, a dog, or somebody else.
Dogspinny (pictured) is also nice. Even though it is too easy. Roope practically
learned to use it in a second. All kinds of drop and drag -games are very
popular.
On his first night in his new home we decided to pull the telephone line. All
kinds of squeaky toys are also fun. Too bad the most popular one can not
withstand Roope's use for very long.
Other hobbies
Roope likes all kinds of "activate your dog" stuff. He likes to open
cardboard boxes with treats hidden in them. It is nice to rip open a toilet roll
or paper towel which has a treat hidden in it. But this does not last very long
either. A used margarine box is a good hiding place too. Just place a treat in
and close it. That entertains Roope for a while.
"Seeking" is also nice. As long as somebody as hidden all kinds of
goodies around the house. Roope has a good nose and he likes to use it. I have
to plan more difficult tasks.
Russell madness
I have to admit that I have a bad case of Russell madness. It takes several
forms: I have to get everything which has a Russell picture in it, to place
Russell stickers on the car windows, and whenever I see a Russell, I must go
greet it and talk to the owner. There must be other symptoms as well, I will add
them when I remember.
Operation | Seizures | Roope's Skip | Part 3 | Part 2 | Part 1 | Dogholist