Old Dogs, New Tricks

Well, it seems that Morgan's addition to our family has taught a few of our family members some new tricks.

First, we have Lilac.  She has learned to go on bark patrol with Morgan, but I suspect that this was really a lure to get Morgan under her wing as her new protégé.  Now I can picture you there, wondering what sort of thievery Lilac has taught our young and impressionable Shepherd lass.  However, it's not thievery that Morgan has learned under Lilac's tutelage.  It's not the artful display of a bag of garbage, either, thank goodness.  Lilac isn't sharing her fan, so it has not been how to achieve the best position for ultimate belly cooling, either. 

No, Lilac has made an early riser out of Miss Morgan.  These days, Lilac never wakes us up in the morning.  She sleeps the deep sleep of the slumbering log, content with the knowledge that Morgan will be on alert a full ten minutes before the alarm clock goes off, and that she will find a way to make my morning stumble to the bathroom a complete obstacle course that I must navigate in the dark.  Every morning I just hope I make it without breaking a toe, stepping on Lilac or Blueberry, tripping over Morgan or waking Mr. Taleteller as I make my way out of the bedroom in a slow motion shuffle.  Every morning, I swear I can see a little smirk on Lilac's face in the predawn glow that filters in under the shade.

Lilac:  I can die happy now!  My work here is finished.  Finally I have a worthy successor!

Me:  (grumbing)  Yeah, well, you're not dead yet, and the vet assures me that you are very healthy for such an old bat.  I am sure I can find some way to get even.

Lilac:  Well, you think about that!  I'm going back to sleep.

Morgan:  Good morning!  Good morrrrrrrrning!  It's time to start a new day!  Good morning!  Good morning...to YOU!

Me:  Can I just get by now, please?  I really need to use the bathroom.

Morgan:  Oh, the bathroom!  That's a great idea!  Hey DAD!

And so I retreat to the sanctity of the bathroom and try to clear the cobwebs from my head as Mr. Taleteller and the Greyhounds join Morgan for the morning routine.

I mentioned that there were others who'd learned new things from Morgan.  That would be Mr. Taleteller.  After Morgan's Close Encounter of the Rabbit Kind, she has been on full alert when walking past the bayberry bush.  It's not only the bayberry bush, though.  The crepe myrtles and forsythia bushes might also be harboring dangerous rabbit felons.  Morgan feels that she must inspect each shrub carefully several times a day.  Mr. Taleteller and I disagree.  However, nothing deters her.

So, Mr. Taleteller made up his mind that he was going to give Morgan a sharp correction with the leash while she was wearing her leather collar.  They walked out toward the forsythia bush and Morgan went into alert mode.  Mr. Taleteller planted his feet on the ground, wound his hands tightly around the leash, pulled hard, and found himself sprawled on the ground.  Morgan had turned and come back towards him, leaving him giving a correction to empty air.  I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed the show.  I assure you that only his pride was hurt.  I know I saw Lilac giving her a paws up when she came back in the house.

Also, much to my great regret, there were no photographs of the escapade, but Mr. Taleteller is quite relieved!