Sleeping dogs
Everyone knows you should let sleeping dogs lie (lie undisturbed, that is, not tell untruths!)
However, only extremely young puppies and particularly old dogs sleep the absorbed sleep of the entirely relaxed. In the intervening years they sleep with one ear and one eye open.
If they haven’t reacted to a human entering the kitchen they may continue to give every appearance of slumbering, but the slightest food-related noise will alert them. The chink of the butter dish, the opening of the fridge door, the clink of a food bowl will awaken them, and they may or may not stir themselves to investigate.
However, a human saying, ‘Whoops!’ will have them instantly in attendance. They know that food has fallen like manna from heaven and it is their task to tidy it away, which they accomplish swiftly and efficiently.
I wish I could
spring into action from a standing sleeping start as they do . . . or ever!
Our lab would always be woofing while sleeping, little sounds that I like to think was a reaction to a lovely dream he was having.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing dogs dreaming. Very often, they run in their sleep, too.
DeleteI remember once springing into action from a sleeping start, we'd moved into a new house and I woke to a frightened scream from a daughter, instantly I was in her room turning on the light. She'd half woken needing the bathroom and walked into a wall by mistake, not yet knowing the layout of the new house.
ReplyDeleteMost of our dogs lived outside when we had them, always only one dog at a time, so they weren't handy for cleaning up spilled food.
Poor child - what a shock for her, and you, too, having to react so swiftly.
DeleteThey also serve who only seem to lie and sleep.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteWe have cats which spring into action in a nanosecond at the merest hint of the possibility of food - or indeed of anything that might require their investigation/supervision.
ReplyDeleteCats, of course, are superior in every way to all other forms of life, and like to let you know so at every opportunity. 😼🐈⬛🐈
DeleteI wish I could spring into action like they do also Janice. I have a (rather large) black cat with very similar tendencies regarding food & the tinkle of dishes!
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how some cats can be so 'well-built' while others, who live in the same house, are slimmer.
Deletesome creatures sleep half their brain at a time (dolphins for example). I've read about humans who by some freak of nature do the same thing but donknow that while part of their brain was asleep the other part was riding a motorscooter around town! I wonder if dogs can sleep part and have part alert?
ReplyDeleteThat's probably true for dogs, and other animals, too. Atavistic instincts remain.
DeleteLooking them sleep makes me want to do the same
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. 😊
DeleteMy black labrador puppy was very food-sensitive, even when I thought he was asleep. I used to watch his eating habits carefully, because the vets warned us about obesity in adult labbies But then the paediatrician warned us about our young sons who also ran the risk of gaining weight.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! A neighbour's very young baby grew rather heavy, but he was entirely breast-fed. Superior digestion!
DeleteCats are not much different. Precious knows the difference between our food and hers and she'll sleep right through a meal rattle her Crunchies and she comes flying.
ReplyDeleteThey're not daft, are they?
DeleteDelightful! One of our dogs in childhood was Ace-Cool dishwasher. The ones the girls have now are vaccum cleaners 😅
ReplyDeleteThey can wash the plates so well they look clean!
DeleteLOL, this is so true. You can call their name, you can give them a whistle and get no response. But open up that bag of chips and they are there in a flash
ReplyDeleteSelective deafness, I suppose.
DeleteGeorge could hear a banana being peeled from another room
ReplyDeleteDon't they just love bananas?
DeleteOur lab Jas dreams much more than our westie Stan, as I type this Jas is sound asleep head resting on one of her favourite cuddly toys, but if I were to open a crisp bag........😆
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
😁 Ours seem to dream more as they get older, and also try more to develop the power of human speech as they age.
DeleteThey are so smart! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThey are.
ReplyDeleteA woman had her dogs trained. If she was cooking and dropped something on the floor, she'd yell, "Housekeeping!" and the two little dogs would come running to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter-in-law sent me a picture of their new golden, Tucker. After a good romp with the girls on a hot summer day, he came inside and stretched out on the air conditioning vent for a deep snooze.
'Housekeeping!' That's wonderful.
DeleteTucker sounds like a sensible dog.
I have tried to very, very quietly open the cheese drawer in the fridge, but my dog, Sammy, never fails to come racing in from his sleep on the bed four rooms away. Immediately alert, sitting by my side and expecting his fair share (or more). Loves his (my) cheese.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! They always seem to know when there's a chance of a titbit.
DeleteI yell Clean up needed in the kitchen if I drop food on the floor and he is there before the word up is out of my mouth. He can hear the crinkle of a plastic bag, wrapper, sucking sound of fridge, toaster button going down. any sound related to food and I too would love to spring up even from watching TV .
ReplyDeleteThey know it it's worth their while, that's what gets me.
DeleteI've always been surprised what our cat would sleep through and would cause it to wake up.
ReplyDeleteThey have senses so acute that they make us look slow-witted.
DeleteDon't they look comfy!
ReplyDeleteThey are/were.
DeleteChris, I have been unable to access your blog for a few days, due to a 'threat.' I've reported it.
DeleteI don't know dogs, but our cats knew the sound of a Dreamies packet being opened.
ReplyDeleteThey love their favourite treats. Ours come to the call, 'Treats.'
DeleteI also wish I could spring into action like they do!
ReplyDeleteSweet pictures of 'Puppy Jenna' and 'Old lady Cariadd'
All the best Jan
We were lucky that both those dogs lived long lives. Still much missed, like all of them.
DeleteThe same can be said about cats I suppose. One moment, Bess is giving every appearance of slumbering, but the minute one of us is going into the direction of the kitchen she's right there behind you! xxx
ReplyDeleteBehind you? You are fortunate - ours amble very slowly and weavingly ahead of us. One day we will trip!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I do 'springing into action' much now but maybe if it was an emergency I could move a bit quicker.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder how quickly I would move if I really had to . . .
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