Cleo’s latest antics

Episode one:

This morning, I was just opening my eyes at the same time that Cleo must have woke up because she started her morning routine of rolling around on her bed.  Then with her fogged up eyes, she glanced in my direction, and in my bad timing, I had lifted my head the slightest bit to watch her, which she managed to spy somehow.

“Did I see a head move?  I’m SURE I saw a head move!  I know she’s awake, I just bet she is!”

So she comes to my chair and sits at my chair watching me pretend to sleep, and with an attitude that said “I’m too old for this!” She places a paw, along with a good chunk of her weight, onto my big toe.  Kind of hard to feign sleep when 5 kilos of dog ends up on your big toe!

I got up.

Episode two:

I’ve been worried of late that perhaps I’m doing wrong by Cleo, giving her treats that consisted of fruit or veggies, and not dog treats, but a recent MD article that I read on a Pet health website re=assured me (on the subject of senior dogs) that as dogs age, dog treats are often bad for them and we’d be doing them a favour by giving them berries (high in anti-oxidents) or vegetables (low in calories) instead.  Stoked!  I had started this habit last year as I noticed every time I gave Cleo biscuits as treats, she’d get more bloated, so I switched her to vegetables, and since she’s food oriented, she seemed to think vegetables were a bonus treat.

So, now confirmed in my suspicions that vegetables are a better option, as a toilet treat, every time Cleo goes out, I’ll dice a quarter of a carrot for her, which, when she returns back in, promptly treats like dog biscuits by chowing down on them.  Win/win, she eats healthy and gets to snack at the same time.  If only I can just convince Milly that vegetables are better for her.

Last night was extra funny.  Noticing in my fridge that the last portion (about half a handful) of my lettuce had started to brown, I chopped it up and placed it in the dog bowl… not really expecting Cleo to touch it as the lettuce was unseasoned and had no dressing on it (yes, Cleo likes salads), but I figured I put it there just in case Cleo wanted to snack on something.  I also placed a zucchini off cut in the bowl.

So Cleo waddles into the kitchen (as she always does when I’m in there) and her vacuum kicks into gear, sniffing all the empty bowls she recently washed up.  Then she spies the lettuce… “Salad!” And happily starts chomping down on her green treat.

Milly comes in and watches Cleo eat.  “Where’s mine?”

“It’s lettuce.”

“Oh.” and walks back out the door lol

When her time ultimately comes to move onto the next world, I won’t just miss my soulmate and companion with her funny antics.  I’m going to miss my little vacuum that eats vegetables and fruit and everything in between.  I dread that day, and pray it doesn’t come yet.  Every day I thank God that I still have her, and hope and pray I have her for at least a couple more years yet.