It is morning. Ruby is lying low while I get my coffee going. I can almost hear her thinking, “See? I’m being good.”
Emma takes her cue from the older dog and lies low too. They both know there’s a good chance they’ll get a treat before breakfast, just so I won’t feel so guilty about eating mine before going to feed them.
The tiny Melmac dishes have been part of our household since they belonged to our cats 40 years ago. They are the dogs’ snack dishes now.
I usually crumble half a slice of bread into each dish, add a bit of whatever tasty morsel might be around – a sprinkle of parmesan, a tiny dash of half and half, whatever is handy – and add some warm water. I walk over to the hallway with Emma and Ruby right behind me. Without being told, they each sit in their usual spots, Emma to the right, Ruby to the left. I place the dishes on the floor and as always, Emma looks up at me while Ruby stares at her dish. When I say, “Okay,” they lap up the goodies.
Afterwards, like the good girls they are, they bring me the dishes to put in the sink.
Here is Ruby with her brown dish.
And here is Emma with her cream dish. (Her pictures are often blurry because she is always in motion.)
Then, partially satisfied, they lie at my feet until I’ve had my coffee and toast, knowing that afterwards we’ll go downstairs and they’ll have a real “dog’s breakfast.”
“Manners matter,” Ruby says.
Emma says, “I’m cute.”
“That’s not enough,” the old dog warns.
“And you should follow suit.
Just lie down flat, and roll your eyes
To watch what’s going on.
Pretty soon we’ll get our snack
And breakfast won’t be long.
Sit there patiently and wait.
Never whine or jump.
If you do, we’ll miss our snack
So sit down on your rump.
When the mistress says, ‘Okay!’
We can begin to eat.
You’d better not start in too soon,
She doesn’t like a cheat.
“Oh yeah, but Ruby,” Emma says,
“You always watch your food.
I watch, adoringly, her face,
And capture her good mood.”
Reblogged this on Blog Pad 2017.
Sweet! Our dogs do capture our hearts, don’t they? 😊
These two certainly have.
I love this, you are blessed with such wonderful family!
Yes, I am, John. Thanks. 😉
Your dogs are beautiful, and your poem’s a treat, too. I smiled all the way through!
That makes me happy. TY!
Beautiful poem beautiful dogs, beautiful attitude 🙂
Life is Good !
Yes, it sure is, Hans. Thanks,
They are beauties and you do know your dogs!
They’re real characters. Sometimes I forget that they’re dogs.
the right owner, the right animal, and a magic bond happens.
its not every time. but sometimes. You, have a beautiful connection with these two. 🙂
Your girls are adorable! So obedient and skilled, too! Thanks for sharing them. Your poem is lovely. 🙂 Have a good day, Anneli. It’s almost 10 p.m. here. Getting ready to go read before bed. 🙂
Thanks, Patsy. Reading is a good way to drift off into dreamland.
It sure is, Anneli. I HAVE to read before I can go to sleep.
pure … Happiness!
you have such Well Trained dogs. I’m impressed.
i know it takes Time, effort, patience, love, lots of practice…….. lol
loved this post Anneli! 5 STARS
Aw, thanks, Debi. I do love my dogs. They pretty much call the shots around here, and I try to do as I’m told.
Such cute little ladies 🙂 Just got to love them to bits!
So nice to see you here, Raili. Glad you like my ladies. They’re very special to me.
I’m struggling to get around to do all the reading of late – I don’t know if I’m being inefficient or what !
I know it is so hard to manage when we get too many blogs to follow. That’s why I appreciate you being there!
I try and keep my follows to a more or less manageable level, but it’s always tricky deciding which ones. Between those and visiting new followers, it can be a very time consuming thing! But you’re a keeper even if my visits are sometimes few and far between 🙂
So sweet!
Thanks, Jill. They’ve got my number and know which buttons to push.
They really are, Jill. I wish you could meet them.
Beautiful dogs. they certainly look behaved.
They’re pretty well behaved most of the time. They sure keep me entertained.Thanks, Arlene.
What a wonderfu post, Anneli! I’m smiling all over. Thanks for sharing. You certainly have two well-behaved dogs. Ours never were that way. But we still loved them. Btw, we had a “Ruby” once, years and years agon, in Karnes County still. Unfortunately she was a roamer and, at the age of just thre, run over on the highway in front of our place there. The intersting fact: from that day on, her twin, Buster, who had always roamed with her all over the county, never ran out onto the highway again! He raomed the pastures behind our house, and he went up to the side of the road, but always stayed on the grassy verge and never ran across.
We had that happen years ago when our dog used to sneak away always right after (NEVER before) she got fed. One day she got out on the road and that was it for her.
Very lovely post – I love your dogs to pieces (as I do the owners of them). And the poem fits perfect.
Wish you didn’t live so far away!!!
Me too!
Your dogs are so sweet. I saw this all in action, just a few weeks ago. Such good pups. ❤ ❤
They’re so biddable – and good company.
Sweet dogs. Perfect poem.
Thanks, Belinda. I had fun doing this one.
Aww, they work like a team with Ruby setting a refined example. 💖 Emma watches and senses your moods, huh? 👏 ❤
Taking their bowls to you is quite a sweet trick, Anneli. Good dogs!
They are sweet dogs. Very biddable.
They have sweet faces and so nice to have you share them with us, Anneli.
so loved this Anneli!
Very happy to hear that, David. Thank you.
Oh dear, I got a good giggle out of them holding those plates. LOL They’re so adorable. Dogs are such a gift from heaven.
The good ones are, for sure. We’ve had the odd dog (years ago) that was a bit of a nuisance, but for the most part, they’re a wonderful part of the family.
I’ve had only two dogs, plus I fostered two dogs and found them forever homes. They were wonderful, too. Difficult to give up. Piezon used to pick up things and give them to me. Max can’t seem to grasp that concept. But, Max is smart in so many other ways. My heart soars for these four-legged lovables.
I’m lucky enough to know the feeling.
That’s so cute that they bring their bowls to you! Ha, ha. They look like happy dogs. Cute poem, too. 🙂
Thank you, D. I wish I could teach them to wash the dishes too. I bet they would love to play in the water with the dishes. I’d have to put little white aprons on them. Maybe the kind with frilly straps like the French maids have.
You are a wonderful doggie mother to Ruby and Emma, and they love you in return. You also trained them well, so that they’re happy. And well-snacked! Love this post and your poem. xo
Thank you, Pam. Glad you liked the post. When you’re feeling like you want to get a dog, just don’t forget how they tie you down. You start to love them and then it’s hard to put them in a kennel or leave them behind, and you find yourself missing out on travel. I wouldn’t want to be without Ruby and Emma, but ….
I know… I know. But they add SO MUCH to your life! ❤
Yes, they sure do.
They look like happy dogs. The good ones are, for sure.
Yes, they are very happy dogs! They have a good life.