Proud Mama.... me...

Before I prattle on about what I'm so proud of... let me indulge in a silly Gimme story. 

When I take my morning bath, Gimme comes in the bathroom and gets to lay there gnawing on a nice bone while I bathe.  We were using other chews, but have recently changed to nice big beef bones.  That way I know she's staying out of trouble and at least once a day we get to practice her "giving up the goodie" skill. 

Yesterday as I was getting ready to go about my day, I noticed Gimme sitting in the bathroom on the bath matt, patiently waiting.  I ignored to her see what she'd do next, since she's always good for something to amuse...  Well before long she came out and poked my butt with her nose, then put her face down and pawed at her nose before trotting back into the bathroom.  I believe that translates as, "Peeeeeuuuuuuu Mom, you need a bath."  That's my girl, never at a loss for words...

So why am I so proud? 

The other day we were walking one of the trails, Gimme was a bit ahead of me sniffing something that looked suspiciously like a dead thing.  As I walked by, I called her name, just as she picked it up... she paused briefly before dropping it and running up to me.  Naturally she got a big long suck off her peanut butter tube for a reward.  When I thought she'd had enough payment for her wonderful decision, I put the tube back in my pocket.  She paused for a moment looking back at the dead thing, weighing her options, then turned to come with me.  She got rewarded for that good decision too.

Then later as we came back around we had to pass it again (I was right, it was a HUGE dead mole).  She veered toward it and I said "leave it", not sure what she'd do since we have only just started introducing that concept.  She turned her head away from it slightly and went right on by it, as if she never was veering toward it in the first place, AND just as if she knew all about the dictionary definition of that cue.  Good girl!

She is so much better than I have any right to expect.  That's what comes of being a canine genius I guess...