By Judy Berman
When I heard that I’ll be dog-sitting our grandpuppy, I begin to envision a video of our two cats and the dog surfing – just like the one I saw on YouTube.
My biggest hurdle will be persuading our cats, Jean-Louis and Reggie, to take part.
After one week, with all three under the same roof, I suspect those dogs and the cat in the video are paid actors.
I just don’t see ours getting on board – so to speak.
The first signs of discontent are when our cats check out the new guy’s shiny silver water dish. Suddenly, their ceramic water bowl has lost its luster.
So, I cave in. I buy a shiny, silver water dish for our cats. I hope that will keep peace in the house and allow Riley, our grandpuppy, unfettered access to his own water dish.
No dice. Our cats sniff disdainfully as they take one look at their new dish. They march purposefully toward Riley’s dish, and lap up the contents.
The grumbling continues with their next painful discovery.
“What! Why does Riley get to go outdoors?” they meow pitifully.
They watch mournfully thru the window as Riley and I go on our walkies.
Ever the peacemaker, I buy the cats a harness – with a hoodie even – similar to Riley’s. The saleslady at PetCo, my furry companions and I are now on a first-name basis.
Reggie tolerates the harness. She tentatively slinks around the kitchen for 10 to 15 seconds as if she was a ninja trying to avoid detection.
But, at one point, Reggie just plops down and refuses to budge.
Jean-Louis, on the other hand, wants no part of THAT. After I put the harness on him, he performs acrobat-worthy flips.
Togetherness? Only if you count Reggie and Riley snoozing in the computer room where I write and maintaining a No Animals Land about 10 feet apart.
When I take a nap, Reggie is right there next to me. Jean-Louis is also on the bed, but he’s at the farthest point away from Riley as he can get.
There is some hope. Once Reggie gave notice who was boss in the house – she’s about twice Riley’s size – they touch noses a few times.
But family photo ops are out of the question. It takes all of my diplomacy skills and master wresting moves to get Jean-Louis to sit still long enough for a photo of the three of them.
I’m not giving up … there’s still time to make that surfing video.
Now, just where did they all go to?
Do your furry – or nonfurry – animal companions play nice with their guests?
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Judy Berman and earthrider, 2011-14. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to (Judy Berman) and (earthrider, earth-rider.com, or earthriderdotcom) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Video – Happy Dogs and a Cat in Australia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DePFiF-nNoE
Story behind the cat and dogs in the video – http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/05/04/cat-trainer-gets-dogs-cats-to-rock-to-pharrell-williams-happy-video-viral-lucas-valley-mel-gibson-hollywood-james-cameron-dick-clark/
1. Main Photo: Dog surfing – taken Nov. 19, 2011 by Frank Kovalchek, Anchorage, Alaska, USA http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Hanging_18.jpg/640px-Hanging_18.jpg
2. Photo – Riley walking in the park – taken by Dave Berman, April 12, 2014
3. Photo – Riley, Reggie and Jean-Louis (and me) – taken by Dave Berman, April 13, 2014
