Today I’m grateful for my naughty dog.

11.12.2022

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I left the house to run one quick errand today and came home to this mess. While I was gone Barkley decided that something in the garbage smelled delicious and proceeded to knock over the trash can in pursuit of the scrumptious treat. He must have found what he was searching for, because when I came into the kitchen from the garage he was taking a peaceful snooze in his dog bed, surrounded by the mess he’d created.

He jumped up when he saw me and ran to the living room. He was fully aware that he’d done something wrong, and sheepishly hid two rooms away. He came back to the kitchen a minute or two later, lovingly rubbing his head on my shoe as if to say “sorry, Mama.”

Barkley gets into the garbage a couple of times a year. It’s always my fault. I know better than to throw yummy smelling things into the kitchen garbage can. I also know not to throw anything in this trash that has even slightly touched cheese or peanut butter, cuz even if I can’t smell them, he can sniff those out 10 out of 10 times. Such items go directly into the garage garbage. But occasionally I forget, as was the case today.

My sweet ol’ Barkley’s fur is getting grayer by the day. He still loves to go on walks and play ball, but his favorite pastime are now napping and snuggling rather than fetching and jumping. He’s a healthy dog, but he’s almost completely deaf and he’s definitely slowing down. I tell myself that he’s still got many, many good years ahead of him, but I can’t deny the fact that my 14 year old pup is hardly a pup at all. He’s an old man dog. And it pretty much breaks my heart.

So, the fact that he’s still creating mischief actually makes my heart happy, even if it means I have an occasional mess to clean up. His hearing may be gone, but he’s still got a really good sniffer on him. And I love that he had the will and the energy to break into the garbage can today, even if it meant he had to take a nap immediately afterward.

So, way to go, naughty dog. I’m thankful for you and will gladly clean up your garbagy messes again and again and again.