Clever Boy!

I bought Tug a new toy earlier this week. I gave it to him and Mama and I watched the "introductions" begin. Frankly, it's one of the best parts of playing with Tug- we've never "chased" him when he has his toys as the books and his trainer had warned against it. If, for some reason, you need to catch your dog quickly it's much harder to do if you've engaged in chasing them as part of play. So, as fun as it would be and as much as he tries to initiate it, we don't chase him. That leaves watching him with a new toy as the best part of play time. He has to test it out by pawing it and sniffing it and then jumping back like "hey, that moved- didn't it" and then moving in again to see what it will do. :) If it's a shape or material he's had before it doesn't last very long and he leaves the introductory period and begins playing in earnest.

This was similar to something he had in the past so he was in full chew mode within minutes. A little while later, Mama and I are at the table eating. He dropped the toy somewhere to come sit on his little cushion by the table and wait for scraps (yes, we're bad about that). When we left the table and went to settle into our recliners in front of the tv Mama asks Tug "where's your new toy." Tug looks at her so she repeats the important word "toy" and he looks over all his older toys scattered around. Then he looks at her and she said it again- suddenly he dashes off into the kitchen and comes back with the brand new (slightly slobber covered) toy! What a clever boy!