This is Bailey the miniature Dachshund, doing what he loves most -- burrowing under fleece bedding. Usually he's completely buried inside, but he came up for air so I could take his photo. His one variation on this, which I think you've seen in another blog posting, is to bury the front half of his body, face and all, in the bedding, while leaving his rear-end sticking out. (I'm not sure if he does this for temperature-control or some other purpose.)
But the problem for burrowing Dachshunds -- especially small ones who completely disappear inside a wad of bedding -- is that no one else knows they're in there! It just looks like, well, a wad of bedding. This is bad enough with sighted dogs who will walk right over the lump, but add in a houseful of blind dogs, and being a burrowing Dachshund can be downright risky.
So Bailey's risk-management solution is pretty simple. Whenever he hears paw-pads headed his way, the bedding stirs and he starts barking vociferously from inside the wad. "Hey, look out, I'm in here!" It works. Sighted or blind, the other dogs steer away from the hidden Dachshund.
Well, it works most of the time. The deaf ones, like Pappy and Dillon, don't hear a thing, and usually aren't paying much attention to where they're walking anyway, so they're not even likely to notice the bedding moving on the floor. Oh, well. There's a price to pay for risky behavior.
Mine does the SAME thing. It can be dangerous at times because we don't know she is there and she gets stepped on. I really don't think she could sleep if she wasn't under the covers. I love it, it's adorable. Give him a kiss for me! :)
Posted by: Lyndee Ramsdell | February 16, 2007 at 11:43 AM
So familar with crazy barking coming from under fleece lumps at my house. Here it is from a one eyed Chihuahua burrower with a deaf Boston Terrier not hearing the warning ! Love to you Bailey, you are such a cutie.
Posted by: Leigh | January 13, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Oh my gosh what a sweet face! What a cutie!
How are all your kitties? I love dogs but am really a cat lady. More on the kitties please!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | January 12, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Nice to hear about Paddy, and I was wondering how "the Hero" Peabody is doing?
Posted by: Karen SA/TX | January 11, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Oh so familiar with the little fleece lumps on the floor, and on the sofa........Cute Bailey!
Posted by: christine | January 11, 2007 at 03:06 PM
Hi Steve and Alyane:
Oh my gosh, in this picture Bailey is the splitting image of our Amber!! Thank you so very much for providing such a loving, caring and heavenly place for Bailey and all his friends!
Jim and Diane
Posted by: Jim | January 11, 2007 at 02:16 PM
Bailey, what a sweetie you are...and quite the smart little charmer!!
Posted by: Nina | January 11, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Bailey is a riot and a smart little whip! He's not going to give up his habit so everyone else will have to take notice of his whereabouts!
I awoke this morning thinking of Cinder. How are she and her kittens (now 6 months?) doing?
Posted by: Leilani | January 11, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Bailey is one funny dog! I must compliment him on his frock for this photo, as I love polar bears & purple.
Hugs to all,
ginger & Tobias
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | January 11, 2007 at 12:54 AM