When I snuck quietly into the dog room this morning about 6:15 to take these photos, I was hoping to find blind Madison and blind and deaf Spinner sleeping "stacked," one on the dog bed below and one on the big bed above. That's the way they were yesterday morning when I walked in ... without the camera, of course. With the camera this morning, they were sleeping on opposite sides of the room:
I'd wanted to photograph them together because they are the only two dogs who enjoy "house privileges" in the dog wing, i.e., get to sleep anywhere they want at night and not in crates. We've found over the years that the more dogs left loose in a room unsupervised, the greater the likelihood someone is going to pee overnight. It's like the more dogs there are, the more discipline and self-control break down ... I'm not sure why that is, but I suspect the same is true with humans, too. And some dogs just can't or won't hold it overnight. In any case, through a process of elimination (no pun intended! honest!), we ended up with these two older girls with "house privileges" for the dog wing. (Holly and blind Goldie are the only two who get to stay out all night in the people wing.)
Getting -- and keeping -- house privileges is not soley a function of good potty habits, though. The late-night party animals, like blind Widget, quickly lose their privileges because of their frat-house behavior at 3 a.m. The looking-for-food-in-all-the-wrong-places types -- like blind Cedar, who will upend any trash can searching for anything edible -- also lose privileges.
Thus the last two standing ... er, sleeping ... are Madison and Spinner.
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They both look so peaceful! Cozy quarters for all!!
Posted by: MsFitzTX | July 24, 2011 at 12:34 PM
When does the raffle end for the quilt??? Puparazzi???? Thanks!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | July 23, 2011 at 07:44 PM
I, too, wish I could sleep as well as Spinner and Madison...I'd be a new person :)
They sure are comfy and cozy...it really is a dog's life!
Posted by: Ann | July 23, 2011 at 04:30 AM
Agree with the first two comments-LOVE this blog!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | July 22, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Awwwww - they look so peaceful and well-taken-care of - and of course they are! Sweet dreams Madison and Spinner.
Posted by: Angela | July 22, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Spinner looks so comfy! I wonder if they are aware of their privileged state. Probably they are! Interesting observation about more dogs together = less discipline. No doubt by this time you have enough material for a dozen scholarly articles on dog behavior. :)
Posted by: Tonya Allen | July 22, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Such sweet girls! Love to see them so cozy, and makes me want to take a nap!
Posted by: Margaret | July 22, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Steve, your post is hilarious!!!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | July 22, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Spinner looks like King of the mountain!!!
Posted by: gayle | July 22, 2011 at 09:49 AM
I wish I could sleep 1/2 as comfortably as Spinner looks to be sleeping (and with that nice BIG bed all her own!!!) Hugs and snuggles to Miss Madison and Miss Spinner, the winners of the dogs sleep where they like contest.
Posted by: Anne in FL | July 22, 2011 at 08:33 AM