Comfy Couch

I'm one of those people who does not like dogs on the couch, on the chairs, on the bed, etc., so I've tried to teach Maya that these are forbidden areas.  The bed is easy -- she can't get up there.  The chairs have been easy too -- I think she's scared she'll fall off because they're not very big, so she doesn't try.  But the couch is another story.

Until recently, Maya was just too small to jump up on the couch.  However, a few weeks ago, she figured it out.  She has to take a little bit of a running start, but she can jump up there now.  I tell her to get off whenever I catch her, and she usually listens.  Only once have I had to actually pick her up and put her back on the ground.  But I don't know what she does when I'm not around.  She's in her crate when I'm at school or running errands, so I know she can't get on the couch or into other things.  She's has done a few things in the past (if you'd like to see what she likes to do with a roll of paper towels while I'm in the shower, click here), but for the most part, she stays out of trouble.

For the past week or so, I've been convinced that she hangs out on the couch while I'm in the shower.  But since I haven't been able to catch her, it's not like I can do anything about it.  Today, I got proof that she was up there.  I left the TV remote on the couch, and when I got out of the shower, the TV was on a different channel.  I guess she sat or stepped on it while chilling on the couch.  But again, what can I do about it?  I know I'm never going to catch her (she gets off when she hears the shower turn off) and I can't do anything about it unless I catch her.  I guess I'm just going to have to accept that she's found a new place to relax for a few minutes each morning.

Thieving Puppy

Like most dogs, Maya is a thief.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me), she's not a very good thief.  She's still a puppy, so I expect her to get into things she's not supposed to, but I swear she'd get away with so much more if she were just a little sneaky about it.

For example, she loves socks.  I don't know if it's because they're soft or fit perfectly in her mouth or just smell really good, but she absolutely loves them.  Whenever she can get her teeth on one, which is more often than I'd like, she takes off running with it in her mouth.  I can't actually catch her, so I either have to trade the sock for a Cheerio or wait for her to get tired of it and set it down.  And since she actually chews on it, and I don't want hole-y socks, she gets a Cheerio.

The reason I say she could get away with more if she were a little sneaky is that she takes off running every time!  If she would just go about her business like normal, even walk away and go sit in a corner, it would take me a lot longer to realize she had something, and she'd keep whatever she had that much longer.  As it is now, if she takes off running, I immediately go see what she's gotten into.

A while back, an out-of-town friend came to stay for a few days so we could attend a mutual friend's wedding.  One night, she left her things in the corner by her suitcase, but didn't put anything inside of it.  After a few minutes, we both see Maya head in that direction and start sniffing around.  Since she wasn't actually in my friend's things, we left her alone.  Not a minute later, she takes off running.  Knowing this is "the sign," I went after her to see what she got, and what do I see but my friend's wedding ring in Maya's mouth!!  I trade her for a few Cheerios and get her ring back, and my friend packed up her stuff and put everything inside the suitcase.

So while Maya is a thief, I guess I should be happy that she's still a bad thief.  If she were any sneakier, I might have been mailing the wedding ring back a few days later.

Trick Doors

I'm in the middle of finals, so it's been up to Maya to entertain herself lately.  She usually does ok, but eventually she'll come jump in my lap or on my books.  That's her way of telling me to play with her.  It's also my hint to step away from the books for a few minutes and get some fresh air or just relax.

Yesterday, I noticed that she was being really quiet.  I looked around and even called her name, but nothing.  There's absolutely no way she can get outside, so I wasn't worried about that, but I figured she must have gotten into something and didn't want to fess up.  Or she found a partial treat she hid somewhere along the way. 

I gave up and headed to the bathroom.  When I opened the door, there she was, looking up at me oh so innocently.  Apparently the bathroom door was a little open and she walked in.  Then she closed the door behind her and was stuck.  The surprising part was that she didn't make a sound.  I figure she must have been in there a good 10 minutes, but there was no barking, crying, whimpering, or even scratching at the door.  And since the light was turned off and there are no windows in that bathroom, I guess she just sat in the dark that whole time.

Today, she disappeared again.  This time, I heard the bathroom door close.  About 20 seconds later, she was barking.  I guess she figured out I would be glad to let her out, just as soon as she let me know she was stuck.  I wonder how many more times this will play out before she decides there's really nothing interesting in there...