Earning keep

Dave, Bella, Bono and I went for a walk with some friends today. We walked along the bike path behind our home to a small bridge over a creek. Dave was in charge of watching Bella and I had Bono. Bella went to the railing of the bridge and was just looking, but I had warned my husband that she would throw things over the edge and into the water. He didn't seem worried. After another minute I heard Dave say "oh no". Bella had thrown her sippy cup over the edge. Everyone just looked down in shock, all I could say was, "told you so". You would've thought then Dave would grab whatever else she had available to her to throw, but nope and of course next went over her binki and blankie. Yikes. Yikes. And I must emphasize that the sippy cup that went into the dirty, mucky water was her only one she would drink out of. And the blankie that went in was her most favorite. I thought all was lost and I, of course, was extremely upset.

That was when Dave and our friend Dan went down to the waters edge with Bono. Bono had just been groomed the day before so he was wonderfully clean and trimmed. Now, I also need to remind everyone that I have been on the verge, SEVERAL times, of getting rid of Bono, even going to the length of putting him on craigslist. Bono also does not understand the concept of fetch. Well, sometimes he does, but mostly he will chase after whatever you threw, get to it, look at it and look at you and then just leave it there - because he is that smart. But today, today he was my hero and he saved Dave's hide!

Dave took Bono off his leash and told him to "go get it". I thought there was NO way he would understand and was just going to go play so I started walking back to the house with Bella, Carina and Juliet. I was done and angry. All of a sudden I was hearing "good boy" several times and I looked over the edge and Bono had the handle of the sippy cup in his mouth and was swimming toward the shore. Next was the blankie, he went after it, but he hit it with his paw and it went sinking into the mirky water and we couldn't see it from above thus lost forever. (Bono is not a good swimming, a bit bottom heavy) Last was the binki, which is small and was surrounded with weeds, I didn't think there was a chance that he would understand to get it or even be able to find it. Not only did he find it, he retrieved it as well. It was amazing!! I had no idea he was even capable of such heroics!

We came home and of course Dave gave him a bath (that mirky, creek/swampy water is really stinky) and we gave him some treats and extra love for his good behavior. He is simply amazing and somewhat redeemed a special place in my heart. I am sure he will still make me upset with his non-perfect behavior, but I know he is capable of good things too.