Chopped by Butter Boy

WAITING FOR KIBBLE, DREAMING OF BUTTER

We don't give Liam much human food. A little here and there. A plop of peanut butter and a few latte foam licks and turkey slices for training. Oh and Greek yogurt licks and some popcorn Friday's after Crabtree's. Therefore when he snagged part of Daddy Paul's buttered bagel and a lamb chop in the same day he scored a feast bigger than anything he has had in a long time.

Butter Boy
Liam loves butter. We know from his repeat upward leaps whenever butter is out on the kitchen counter. A few months ago he earned his sobriquet "butter boy" by sucking in a quarter pound of butter. He paw-swiped it off the counter. I heard the clatter of the fallen dish and spied the stick as it was sliding backward into his mouth. I reached for it but butter is impossible to grip. Land o Lakes, Liam's favorite. We now know to push it far back on the counter.

We affectionately call him Butter Boy when the butter is on the counter and in use.

Following photos illustrate the butter incident.

HMM I SMELL LAND O LAKES

GOT IT!

Buttered Bagel

On a recent Sunday Paul received two phone calls. The compelling ring of the land line still causes Paul to run to answer. We were expecting a call from a snow removal service. In this frigid snowy winter that is a call one wants to answer. Paul jumped and ran for it. Just as quickly Liam jumped at the bagel resting on the arm of the couch. I was in the room but do not possess the leaping ability of a beagle boy zeroed in on a buttered bagel. He got it. I ripped it from his mouth. This was a Starbucks bagel and they are cakey not chewy. It broke into pieces. And I got most of it back. I am sure this partial meal whetted Liam's appetite.
And there would be more.

WATCHING AND WAITING

The Lamb Chop

Late in the day Paul was doing the garbage chore. Tying up the hefty bag and putting it out. Another phone call. Quick one, Liam quick also. Bag left on floor. Liam's head in it, rummaging and sniffing and pushing its contents around

and emerging with a dryer sheet hanging from his mouth concealing what I suspected was a lamb chop. Or the remains. I ran after him. Paul joined in. To the back of the couch, then to the love seat, Paul at one end me at the other...we cornered him and dragged him out. I then put my hand in his mouth. Really. I did that. In an adult dog's mouth with greenie strengthened teeth. I used to do it when he was a puppy and he always relinquished the item. His teeth clamped on my hand. Grownup Liam does not surrender anything once it is  in his mouth. To save me Paul got turkey and peanut butter to distract Liam. It worked. After an interminable wait I was able to pull out my hand. The chop was ground to bits and swallowed. 

Photo reenactment of the lamb chop hide and seek by Liam's stunt double

BEHIND COUCH-CHOP HIDING PLACE

BEHIND LOVE SEAT

CHECKING FOR PARENTS

What a day.

Lessons 

Let the answering machine get the call.

Never take eyes off Liam when food is out

Do not put hand into dog's mouth.  My hand came dangerously close to being chopped.

Teach Liam the "drop it" command

Meanwhile Liam is off to dreamland; his toys watching over him. A wildly satisfying hunt will cause a dog to feel sleepy...and no longer interested in us. 

Woof, Woof