Many months ago I posted an item and a still photo about blind Widget "looming" over the other dogs until they give up their bed or chair to her. Widget will quietly walk up to them, stand there motionless (except for her little tail bobbing), and stare intently at them. (Hey, she's blind, but a stare is a stare!) She will maintain this posture for what seems like an eternity ... it may be only a few minutes, but it's almost always more stress than the other dogs can bear. Sooner rather than later, they crack under the pressure and surrender their spot to Widget.
She does this with all dogs, large and small, blind or sighted. Only two dogs withstand "The Loom" as we call it ... big, blind Kenai and our old boy, Dillon, who's pretty much oblivious to all sorts of things going on around him. Eventually Widget will give up, dropping her tail in a sign of waning confidence in her ability to intimidate, and wander off, or she'll just climb up and settle down next to them (but that's NOT the same as winning the stare-down and having the bed or chair to oneself!).
So when I saw Widget looming over Oscar just the other day, this time I dashed to the office to get the video camera. This showdown had been going on for a while, so unfortunately I captured only the last few seconds, missing out on all the tension that was buzzing in the air!
That is hilarious! Around our house we call that the "Jedi Mind Trick". Amazing how the other dogs give in, even if they can't see what she's doing.
What a character! I'm so glad we found you for her. That kind of chutzpa deserves a second chance!
Posted by: Morgan Skilling | April 20, 2007 at 01:07 PM
Ha! Maybe you didn't catch all the tension, but that contented yawn at the end says it all!! What a happy winner....
By the way, that is a very handy and beautiful ramp that she's on, is it a doggie thing or could I look for it somewhere else?
Posted by: Jessica, NL | April 19, 2007 at 05:29 PM
They are too funny! They are like human. Oscar get's fed up and takes off, while Widget makes himself comfortable. Too Cute!
Posted by: Lahna Zandi, Coral Springs, FL. | April 19, 2007 at 02:22 PM
That is too funny. I guess she realizes that there's a warm spot ready and waiting for her.
I should try that trick at home.
Posted by: David | April 19, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Too funny. One of min pins, Pebbles, uses a similar technique to get toys away from the other dogs, except she uses her rear! She sidles up to the chosen one and starts manuevering her backside towards her opponent's head. If they don't give up in disgust, she will eventually sit on their head. That's the ultimate indignity for the other dogs and a sure way for her to get that toy.
Posted by: Dawn Moore | April 19, 2007 at 10:30 AM
That little stinker! Widget is the funniest...he's really got "The Loom" perfected.
Posted by: Linda O'Neill | April 19, 2007 at 09:26 AM
OH my gosh, our 2 lb. 17 year old cat who has kidney and liver failure does this same thing to our 125 lb. dog, Buster, and our 95 lb. dog, Ivan. She wins every time. I think she's been getting tips from Widget behind our backs!
Posted by: Jen | April 19, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Maybe Widget just likes a prewarmed bed! Other than having what seems to be so wonderful to someone else....what a funny dog! They all have their own quirks & I love getting to see them in action.
Big hugs,
ginger & Tobias
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | April 19, 2007 at 04:01 AM
Judging by the yawn, I'm guessing that looming is tiring work!
Posted by: Vicki Small | April 18, 2007 at 09:04 PM
What a tyrant! Too funny.
Posted by: Debbie Burke | April 18, 2007 at 08:20 PM