I think Savannah knows and understands that she must be on not only her best behavior, but extraordinary stellar behavior on Thursdays when the ladies come here for tea. Whether it's two ladies or seven, this puppy has consistently behaved herself on Thursdays. So much so that everyone always comments on how well-behaved she is.
You think so? Well, come back here at two o'clock in the morning when this well-behaved puppy is roaring at an armadillo out in the yard or tearing up her plush and comfy bed or jumping up to catch and swallow June-bugs when she's supposed to be peeing in the blasted grass. (That's what I would like to say, but I don't. I just nod my head and say 'Yes, she's a good puppy.' (When she wants to be.)
Savannah put another hole in her bed this morning. Not a major one, just enough of a tear in a previously un-torn corner so now three of the four corners have the imprints and results of her considerably big teeth. I sewed up the newest hole with black thread and Frankenstein stitches, and then got an old sheet and just wrapped up the bed in that beige sheet that has an overall design of green palm trees. Those were always my favorite set of sheets in Clear Lake, but I don't use them here in the Hill Country because at night, those little palm trees look like scorpions. (I can hear you laughing.) All of our sheet sets now are plain, beige, and pattern-less. (I also have a set of once-favorite chintz-patterned sheets that are now used to cover my car when it's in the garage. Same theory--- you can't see the scorpions amongst all of that chintz.)
This puppy watched me wrapping up her bed... the sheet was more than enough to cover the entire bed, top and bottom and sides, and I folded it up neatly underneath to give the once-plush bed more 'cushion.' Savannah has pulled out enough of the fiberfill to make about four cat-sized beds. When I was done covering that bed, Savannah walked up to it and sniffed every inch, then plopped herself down in the middle of it as if her bed had always been decorated with little green palm trees. She hasn't bitten or torn the sheet, so maybe this will be a solution to the biting-the-bed problem. Sweet Pea, however, is thoroughly confused. He has walked up to that bed and sniffed the sheet and even put a paw on a few of the palm trees, as if he could erase the design. Sweet Pea will sit in front of Savannah's bed and meow a few times, and then walk away. I guess this cat doesn't like the palm tree design, or maybe he thinks they look too much like scorpions.
During tea (and crafts) this afternoon, Savannah walked over to my chair and sat there looking at me. I told her she was being a very good girl but she could not have a brownie or a cookie. She kept looking at me, then put her paw on my leg.... one of her signs that she has to go out. So on went her leash and off into the yard we went, and within three seconds, Savannah found the perfect spot in the grass to pee (right by the house) and then I brought her back inside. This puppy walked around the table in the dining room, took herself into the living room, and curled up and went to sleep. We didn't hear a peep out of her for the rest of the afternoon.
Savannah is a mystery at times. For as good (stellar) as she can be, there are moments and days and nights that all of her good behavior goes right out the puppy window and she becomes ill-mannered, scattered, and un-focused. I am no longer waiting for that magic one-year mark which I thought would signify the end of her puppy-hood. I think Savannah is going to keep being a puppy till she's a year-and-a-half or two years old. I hope we can both survive that.
And if Savannah knew what I just typed in that last sentence, the puppy in her would be joyfully and enthusiastically singing "I will survive.... oh yes.... I will survive...."
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