Sweet Gummi Mary! Now She's A Kidnapper!

Our adopted dog Scarlett has been gradually getting better with her manners. She will almost always go to the spot on the side porch by the chair now, and await my pats. Not so feisty during petting. Actually sits down sometimes, and gazes into my eyes. Sadly, I must neglect my little Jack during these times, lest Scarlett shove him off the porch to regain sole attention. Don't you worry about Jack. He gets his pats before I leave. Even Scarlett understands this schedule. She stands back and doesn't crowd in at leave time.

Tuesday afternoon, I had to be cross with Scarlett. She always runs into the garage when I get home. Stands and watches me, all wiggly, while I slide out of T-Hoe. She doesn't jump. She waits for me to close the T-Hoe's door before she edges past me to go to the front of the garage, and await the opening of the people-door. If I'm getting stuff out of the back, I push the button that open's T-Hoe's hatch. Scarlett goes back there and puts her front feet on the bumper. I pet her a few minutes, then say, "We're done!" and she gets down and goes out to bark at Copper Jack.

The reason for the crossness Tuesday was that I had the hatch open, and was walking back there, but Scarlett went past me towards the front. Not a problem. EXCEPT... she ran back and BRUSHED AGAINST MY LEGS, getting me off-balance. Good thing I was holding onto T-Hoe with my left hand as I was walking.

"NO! BAD DOG!"

Scarlett might be goofy (heh, heh, MIGHT), but she is not stupid. She knew she did wrong. She ran out of the garage. Not to bark at Copper Jack, because he's been tied up for a week. Hunting season is starting, and he is deer-looking enough that our neighbor doesn't let him run during hunting seasons.

Anyhoo... when I got my box of groceries, and went out the people-door, Scarlett was LYING on the side porch, looking embarrassed and sorry, reaching her head occasionally for a bite of dry food from her bowl. I've never seen her eat while lying down! I set the box on the chair, and called her over, and we had our pats. 

This is her biggest transgression lately, brushing against my legs while I'm walking. She did it a couple weeks ago on the porch. I can't put up with that. She can hurt me. It gets her an angry NO and BAD DOG and scolding. She gets the message, at the time. Let's hope she will remember.

Now for the latest questionable behavior... Wednesday around noon, as I was sitting at HIPPIE at the kitchen table, I saw Scarlett heading around the kitchen nook on the porch, going to the water bowl. BEHIND HER WAS A PUPPY!

What in the Not-Heaven??? Where did Scarlett get a puppy? It was big enough to be weaned, but still very puppy-ish. Looked like a beagle. The white, brown, and black markings. White-tipped tail standing up like an exclamation mark. Trotting along after Scarlett, through the crunchy leaves that fell in the past two days, and sailed directly onto our porch from the 20-feet-away treeline.

Scarlett came back around, completely ignoring the pup, who pranced along as happy as could be. I sent Farmer H a text about it. He said

"Well maybe we now have another dog"

"Maybe. Or somebody might be on Facebook looking for it."

If it's still here when Farmer H gets home, I'll make sure he checks our enclave's Facebook page. I sure don't want to steal anybody's puppy. Don't know how we'll keep Scarlett from kidnapping it again, though.