April 19, 2020

White Dog poked her head into the bedroom to see what was holding up Steve's nightly delivery of her night-night treats and tuck in. "Have you seen your sister," Steve asked her. Bella half pushed through the dog door. "Is Zsofia outside?" Steve pressed. "It is not like her to skip treats. He whistled for her to come inside and repeated the call when she did not respond. "Fine, you are going to miss treats," he called out to her.

Zso STILL had not returned inside after all were tucked in and we were settling in to watch television; usually an hour long cuddle session with our Darkest White Dog. Steve sighed, "I am going to have to go out and see what's up," I saw his flashlight moving around the yard. He was gone for a bit before I heard the garbage can lid bang and Zsofia came rushing into the house.

The daytime stance for the Chase Me Challenge

Steve followed. "We had to play chase and then I had to wrestle a huge bone from her. I do not know WHERE she got it but she was not giving it up." Zsofia gave him a look and then sat nicely expecting treats from me. "Sorry, Itty Bitty One, you did not come when called. You did not Drop It. I don't think you are getting treats now that we are done," I told her.

She headed back out of the dog door. Now EVERY pup wanted to go see what the excitement was about. "It is the old 'reluctantly give up what I shouldn't have had but haha I have a second one stashed' trick," I told Steve. "You are going to have to go back out and now play team take away. I don't want them to have something we did not give them or know where it came from. And when you bring her in THIS time, lock her in the kitchen until after TV time. A little Timeout is in order."

Sure enough, Steve carried in a second bone and promised in the light of day he would go over the yard to make sure there were no other illicit mystery treats. It was after midnight when we settled in and turned on the television. Zsofia paced LOUDLY and sent out little whimpers just for the drama and as a reminder that she was all alone.

When our show was over and Steve released the Sibe, Zso turned on her charm. I kissed her head. "It is bedtime now, Sweet One. Treat time is long past. Sweet dreams.

She sighed as she stood for a moment with her nose out of the dog door before turning to the right and stepping into her crate.