OK, this is an example of Bubbie’s ability to read people and her cleverness to get what she wants….

Last Sunday night (late) we let the dogs out in the yard to pee before going to bed for the night. Suddenly we hear frantic barking. This usually indicates that there is either a terrorist in the backyard, planting a bomb or a hedgehog rolled up into a little ball trying to protect itself from big bad Bubbie. Well, it turned out to be… a Hedgehog!

Since it was VERY late at night (after 11:30PM) and the neighbors barely tolerate Bubbie’s barking during WAKING hours, I grabbed her collar and pulled her away. Then Sammie started to bark frantically at the hedgehog. So I asked Gabe to block Bubbie’s path to the hedgehog while I went for Sammie. Well, Bubbie didn’t like this maneuver at all! She was blocked from ‘protecting’ the family from the hedgehog and both me and Sammie were in harm’s way with Gabe blocking her access! So, what do you think she did?  Bubbie rolls on her back (on the lawn) and looks with her big brown eyes at Gabe. She KNOWS that Gabe ALWAYS rubs her tummy when she’s in this position. And, of course she was right, as Gabe leans over to rub her tummy, she JUMPS UP and skirts around him to make her way to the hedgehog again!

It was a very clever maneuver really! But, of course, I then grabbed her and into the house we went! And off to another backyard went the hedgehog.