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Thursday, August 19, 2010

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!


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27 comments:

  1. Dang!!!

    We might have purchased a pawtographed 8x10 glossy!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra and Khousin Merdie

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  2. Don't you just HATE that!! If someone could invent a camera hat that got those priceless photos automatically they'd make a fortune.

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  3. Hehehe that's funny, you don't need a camera I can see it all!!!
    See Yea George xxx

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  4. Photo? Video would have been ideal.

    At least when you get up early, somepup is up. When I do, The Herd all stays sounds asleep. But if I try to sleep late, POUNCE.

    Sigh.

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  5. Having only one dog in our family, a GSD girl, I've found a bedside flashlight invaluable for navigating a dark bedroom.

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  6. Luckly, she only stood there looking at me as if to say, What are you doing down there in the grass? I was up on my feet before she thought, Is this some new game? I'm IN. Lets PLAY.
    -Mr. Taleteller

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  7. Woof! Woof! and more woofs to you guys. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  8. One can easily see that Morgan is making her place in the family. That is so wonderful. And so nice that Lilac has a successor. She must have been so worried. Isn't it a good thing that she handled that worry better than Henry VIII did? And she is certainly leaving her mark on her Dad as well. Sounds like a very happy family to me.

    lotsa licks, Lola

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  9. Dis was a funny story..hehehe. Morgan is fitting in to da family AND teaching new tricks...bonus!

    Woofs and Licks,
    Maggie Mae

    PeeS Dere is never a camera nearby when you really needs one....

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  10. Darn it! We would have paid for a big picture of Mister Taleteller lying on his rump. We just LOVE to tangle up our humans!!

    Lu-Lu & Lucius

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  11. LOL! Sorry, I have to laugh at Mr. Taleteller lying on the ground! Thanks for the chuckle this morning:)

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  12. I love your descriptions of your early morning "conversations" with your dogs. I'm so happy that Lilac can now sleep in with Morgan on duty!

    My dogs are lazy bones. They stay in bed until just before I appear to be ready to leave on my bike ride. That is, unless a bear visits, like this morning. Then, they're wide awake barking like banshees!

    Oh how I wish that you had video of Morgan and Mr. Taleteller!!!

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  13. Bwahhahaahaa!

    Oh my, I soooo loves da Mr Taleteller on a walk stories....Bwahahahahahahha! They be da BEST ever!!

    Poor Mr Taleteller.....Bwahahahhahah

    MinnaK

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  14. Muahahaha! Morgan sure is one witty gal :)
    To pull a strong man like Mr Taleteller off his feet is no joke!

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  15. Mom say unless the house be on fires, we had better not waken her up. And we dussn't coz mom is so not a morning person and can be quite cranky about being wakened up too early. So when she wakens up at 6 am, I soooo knows it be a hiking day! (BOL about Mr. Taleteller. Nice job!)

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  16. Oh My Dawg!
    WHAT is Lilac telling Morgan in that first photo? "Sister, your form needs work. Louder, faster and much more body language in the wakings of the bi-peds!"

    Ahhahaha! so the ONE time Morgan decides to not investigate! Morgan's winning some serious points with the Greys.

    oh and i tried to comment on other posts, but the comment thingie went away--technical difficulties. I added something like I hope the Greys don't have their noses out of joint for not being the ones to get the wabbit! Will they see Morgan as a heroine or show off? hmmm... time will tell!

    glad to see she and bunny are bed sharing too... tho it looks like Morgan was a little bummed about not getting the pillows!

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  17. Notice how the cameras are never there when you need them. I love how easily dogs learn from one another; we just all hope they're learning the good habits and not picking up on the bad things.

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  18. hehe too cute! Now did you get them to tell you where they hid the camera?

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  19. Bet you Morgan was giggling to herself about how she'd just outsmarted her master. :)

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  20. Mom wants to know if Lilac has started calling Morgan "Grasshopper." I have no idea what she's talking abouts. She says it's from some ANCIENT teevee show.

    Anywho, I'm happy for Lilac that she now has her very own, pliable minion. I feel like she deserves one.

    Wiggles & Wags,
    mayzie

    PeeS. I bet Morgan planned the whole leash thing. Se looks pretty smart!

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  21. Dear oh dear, poor Mr. Taleteller! I hope his pride heals!

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  22. You are clever and beautiful, Lilac.

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  23. You make a good teacher...BOL
    Benny & Lily

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  24. Morgan is making Mr. Taleteller life more exciting!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  25. Oh yes.. the morning obstacle course made even more fun with lilac. Hee hee. Lilac is a lady after my own heart.
    norwood
    PS- I guess morgan corrected mr taleteller.

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