What is it about dogs and brooms? I thought perhaps it was just an oddity with my own dog, Riley, a hyped-up Jack Russell Terrier, who goes absolutely teeth-baring crazy whenever I bring out the broom (or the vacuum cleaner for that matter). He attacks the broom, snapping at it like it's his worst enemy. I find it rather comical but more than a little inconvenient when it comes time to sweep the kitchen floor.
I found out today, however, Porter has the same affliction.
I was doing some tidying up around the house, getting ready for Jason and Sarah's arrival back home tonight, and brought out the broom to sweep the hardwood kitchen and living room floors. As I started to sweep, Porter just backed right up and then literally pounced on the broom as he uttered one of his infrequent barks. I kept sweeping, thinking it was just a fluke, but he kept pouncing and barking. Then he decided it would be even more fun if he ran through the pile of dirt/dog hair that I swept up, so that I could sweep it up again and he could bark and pounce again. It was like we had invented a new game.
Actually, over the course of the past couple of days we have invented a couple new games involving his various rubber toys. I suppose I'll have to fill in my son on these new games, because I'm sure Porter will try to get him to play them too.
In Jason and Sarah's house, it's pretty much a straight shot from the back door to the front door, so I station Porter by the front door, giving him the "sit" and "stay" command and then I stand by the back door and roll the ball like a bowling ball towards the front door, telling Porter to "leave it" as it approaches him. Nine out of ten times he actually obeys and I'm impressed by his self-control when I can see on his big doggy face that it's just killing him to not be able to just scoop up the ball and run with it.
Another game is a variation on soccer and also involves the green ball. I set Porter up in the narrower doorway between the kitchen and living room (the goal) and then try to kick the green ball past him. Let's just say he's a much better goalie than I am a kicker.
I'm more than a bit sad that my time here is coming to an end and officially, today is my last day as dog-sitter. I'm sure though, the kids will be so tired in the morning that I'll get to have one more run at Alston with Porter.
I'm a little teary just thinking about leaving the big lug, who, by the way is laying on my feet as I write this and is snoring like a chain saw (which I find rather comforting and reminiscent of my husband Jack). I hope that I've proved my skills as a dog walker and get asked back for a repeat performance sometime in the near future.
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