Our usual routine in the afternoon is that Alayne and I feed the horses and do the other barn chores first, then we come in to feed the dogs. A couple of weeks ago, as Alayne was standing at our dining table dishing out the food into the dog bowls, she felt this small object descend on her foot. She looked down and saw Dexter lying on her shoe. And he wasn't about to move. Then the next evening, he did the same thing ... and every evening since then, including yesterday, when I got this photo of him. It's a brand-new habit of his. Dexter patiently waits like this while Alayne finishes getting the bowls ready, then he bounces up when he realizes she's ready to start handing them out. Apparently he thinks this technique makes him -- shall we say -- a shoe-in to get fed first.
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That is so sweet! One smart pooch to figure out how to be first in line & looking cute while he's at it!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | May 22, 2009 at 06:55 PM
I agree with everyone else - that's an adorable habit. Aren't you lucky that you said yes to that little guy!
Posted by: JC | May 21, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Oh bless! What a soft spot I have for these little red ones! In fact, my own little "red menace" was recently featured in a blog post:
http://whosyourdachshund.blogspot.com/2009/05/wheres-mustard.html
PS - we are voting for you everyday.
Posted by: Vickie | May 20, 2009 at 04:55 PM
This reminds me of a documentary I remember seeing about service dogs. It showed how when their person sat down or stopped to do something that was going to take awhile, the service dog was trained to lay down to wait and was allowed to nap but was trained to place his paw or chin on top of the person's shoe/foot so that they would know when their person was ready to go. While I'm sure Dexter was vying for first fed he may also just be showing what an excellent minion he is to Alayne!
Posted by: Lynn | May 20, 2009 at 03:20 PM
This is so adorable! Dexter is one smart dog!!.. all us doxie's are pretty smart you know... especially when it comes to food!
Frankie
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com
Posted by: Barbara Techel | May 20, 2009 at 12:01 PM
It's a lot of work being a minion!
My dog pokes me hard with her nose when she wants attention.
Way to go Dexter, whatever it takes to get fed first.
:)
Posted by: Amy A | May 20, 2009 at 11:38 AM
He really is a little dickens, isn't he! How sweet. What a face!
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett, and Moxie | May 20, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Smart move Dexter!
I know I couldn't resist your idea; you'd get fed right away!
Posted by: boundforglory | May 20, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Isn't that an adorable habit?:-)
Dexter looks so sweet! Please give him a BIG hug for me.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | May 20, 2009 at 03:44 AM
Isn't that sweet. They are always putting a smile on our faces!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | May 20, 2009 at 01:48 AM
Dexter is such an adorable little guy!
Posted by: Billie | May 19, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Love it! My dog employs a similar technique. If he firmly plops his chin on top of you, that seems to mean, "Stay!" The look on Dexter's face seems to show a similar level of determination.
Posted by: rachel | May 19, 2009 at 07:17 PM