We are the guardians of the roof,
And though it’s hot up here,
Our job is to say, “Woof-woof-woof,”
And strike all hearts with fear.

As chow I’m toughest of them all,
I make intruders stop,
I only hope that I don’t fall,
That would be quite a drop.

With me there is no serious threat,
I pace the roof above,
And what you see is what you get,
A dog in need of love.

I’m not a guard dog as you see,
I’d be one if I could,
The roof dogs all make fun of me,
Because I’m made of wood.

My name is Andy and I sleep,
I never am awake,
A battery makes me breathe so deep,
Because, you see, I’m fake.

*** Andy was a stuffed toy dog, just like a teddy bear. He had a battery inside him that made him look like he was breathing by making his chest go up and down. He had me totally fooled and the woman who owned him had him on her shop counter, loving every minute of my reaction as I asked if I could pet him. I was really surprised when she told me he was completely “not real.”
Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....
February 22, 2026 at 8:49 pm
He looks real just in that photograph, so I probably be the same if I had actually seen him.
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February 22, 2026 at 8:51 pm
I felt a bit stupid, but it was all in good fun. But I’ve never seen such a real looking stuffed animal.
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February 22, 2026 at 9:07 pm
I wouldn’t feel stupid. I can see me just doing the same. It looks real in the photo and I have not seen it breathing. So I wouldn’t be surprised if I had been the same. And if I did realise it wasn’t real, I still be staring at it with amazement. I bet many are fascinated with it.
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February 22, 2026 at 9:13 pm
The shop keeper was sure enjoying it. I bet she was keeping track of how many people were fooled by Andy and loving every minute of it.
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February 22, 2026 at 8:57 pm
Wow! Sometimes the fakes are amazingly lifelike. He looks real to me, too.
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February 22, 2026 at 9:02 pm
I was saying what a pretty dog it was and the owner said, “His name is Andy.” I believed he was real and asked if I could pet him. She was smirking a lot and had such a good chuckle over having fooled me. It was kind of funny, but I was so sure it was a real dog. The dog’s chest moved up and down like he was breathing.
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February 22, 2026 at 10:27 pm
That is a fun poem and great photos. In our neighborhood we have a Saint Bernard who sits on top of a fence and barks his head off at every passerby below, human and dog. I call him Cujo after that horror movie about a rabid Saint Bernard. My wife and daughter think I am being rude, but I don’t think the owners have ever heard me calling him Cujo.
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February 22, 2026 at 10:35 pm
If they don’t stop him from barking, maybe he deserves to be called Cujo.
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February 22, 2026 at 10:43 pm
I sort of agree Anneli. People below are intimidated by an almost 150+lbs dog hovering over them and aggressively barking. It is not a good idea to let him do that. If he were to jump down he might get hurt. Our big Leonberger was similar in size and loudness of bark but he was behind a metal gate and he was a lot less aggressive, more friendly. In fact people went over to the gate to pet him. With “Cujo”, I am not sure you want to try to pet him even if he were to come down.
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