Alayne took these photos on Friday when she saw blind Widget heading up the ramp to claim the chair Dexter was sleeping in. As we've posted before, Widget has perfected the power of "looming," in which she hovers over the dog who is occupying the space she wants. As she looms over them, she also stares at them. (It doesn't matter that she's blind.) Eventually, the tension is too much and the other dog surrenders the spot. This usually occurs in minutes.
But it would be more correct to say Widget had perfected the power of looming, because on Friday the loom failed. Entirely. And yet, rather than force the issue with some growling or by elbowing the offending party aside, she gave up. That's right, she settled in right beside Dexter. In the photo at top, she has started the classic loom posture.
(You can see from the color we call "doggie brown" on our once pure-white Ikea chair cushions how futile our effort is to keep them covered in fleece blankets.)
After getting no reaction from Dexter, Widget ponders what to do:
Before deciding to pass the time by grooming herself:
After a while she looks over at him with a "What, you're still here?" look:
This is the point where normally she would have started physically elbowing him out of the way and off the chair. But instead, she simply sighed, put her chin on the chair and settled in for a nap ... and that was that:
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NOTHING makes my day like a great Widget story. God bless her, she is persistent...thank you Miss Widget:)
Posted by: Regis Dalton | March 02, 2011 at 05:32 PM
Love it. Fascinates me that this process lasts long enough to enable all the great photos. Great persistence Widge!
Posted by: Margaret | March 01, 2011 at 03:04 PM
mellowing in her old age....
Posted by: Kelly | March 01, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Wouldn't it be nice if people could solve conflict the way these dogs do? Imagine this: One person tries to intimidate another (ie, looms), fails, so decides that their best course of action is to just "nap together" (peacefully co-exist...)
Posted by: Eileen Branco | March 01, 2011 at 05:19 AM
So very cute!! Can you tell me where you got the ramp? I have been looking for something like that for my dogs but can only find steps.
Posted by: Tricia Taylor | February 28, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Awwwww Widge, There's fun in being mellow too - you'll see. And go Dexter - you've got moxie even while sleeping! Hope they had a good snooze together once the power struggle was resolved.:)
Posted by: Angela | February 28, 2011 at 11:53 AM
At least they somewhat fit together on the chair! What a cute post.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | February 28, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Oh that is too funny! Looks like Dexter stayed put through it all. So cute. I love Widget's style!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | February 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
I seem to recall Dexter's triumphing over Widget like this in another post, completely perplexing her in the process. Poor Widget, she just doesn't know what to do in the face of such refusal. Her final position is a riot, napping with her head going uphill. THanks, Alayne, for catching this funny sequence, and thanks, Steve, for your funny narration.
Posted by: Moon Rani | February 28, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Our living room sofa was the one off limits place in the house. Three generations of our rescue dogs have learned to live with this one pitiful rule. Our most recent addition rescue beagle Buddy just ignored our wagging fingers and stern warnings. He would (reluctantly) get off but be back on 15 minutes. We now have the sofa covered with a quilt (which he remakes into a nest as soon was we smooth it). Widget like all beagles is just "special".
Posted by: Bob | February 28, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Ah Widget, she's just the best!!! I think she secretly loves Dexter but just doesn't want it nationally known. It's lonely at the top....
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | February 28, 2011 at 08:17 AM
What a riot! Thanks for the chuckle!
Posted by: Leila - Washington | February 28, 2011 at 01:12 AM
Aww, poor Widget seems to be losing her touch...at least with Dexter! And in all those pictures, Dexter hasn't moved an inch...he's a sound sleeper!
I'm sure she'll soon find someone else on whom her looming will work. She's certainly a piece of work :)
Posted by: Ann | February 27, 2011 at 10:38 PM
That's an injustice!!! Who Dexter think he is?
Posted by: Mauro Salles | February 27, 2011 at 09:35 PM
Not sure why you guys ever thought white furniture would work, then again, you have such a large assortment of colored animals at the RDR that I guess no color of furniture would be ideal......doggie brown it is then!!
Posted by: Marla from Kansas City | February 27, 2011 at 09:31 PM