“It’s amazing to me how much alike 3 – 4 years old kids and dogs are.  When raising kids, a bedtime routine, finished our day with a pleasant feeling.  Or, maybe not.  Depending on the kid.  If we stuck to the routine, kept it cheerful, the kids would get the idea and eventually settle down to their books, quiet music and eventually, sleep.”

Our dasch-a-cock-a-poo, Buddy,  has created his own routine, based on his memory of a repeated playtime.  When asked if he wanted to go “night-night” he’d stand at attention, cock his head left then right, and we’d say “Get your toy.”  Off he ran to pick up the first of his toys in sight, and to the bedroom he’d go.  Playtime of “fetch ‘em and find ‘em” would then ensue until he collapsed on the bed ready to sleep. 

Now, he has us trained.  If he’s ready for bed, which is right before the sun goes down, he’ll go get a toy, hold it in his mouth and sit in front of the bedroom door, looking expectantly in our direction.  Dad obeys, and gets up from the chair, and playtime begins.

I move to the laptop. and write as toys hit the walls, bounce in dangerous directions, and Buddy and Dad fight the good fight. 

Shhhh….soon they’ll be asleep and Buddy’s Mom will write in peace. 

I don’t know which critter is the bigger kid.