Lesson #27: Rain Complements Certain Activities Only

Those of you who live in the great Pacific Northwest know we almost set a record for consecutive days without rainfall earlier this month. We came close but we didn't actually break the record which was just as well since it provided a convenient opportunity for the professor's next lesson. His subject this time? Rain.

When you're running about chasing a tennis ball around a field or engaging in a similar activity rain is quite nice. It keeps one's skin or fur cool and the warmth that one generates from strenuous exercise is offset by the wet. But if you're just hanging around then rain makes it distinctly unpleasant to go outside.

When Oscar McLovin knows it's time for his morning walk he doesn't care what the weather is like outside. I'm convinced that even monsoon-like conditions would fail to temper his enthusiasm. But if he has the option to go outside to spend some time in our yard then he needs the heavens to cooperate: if it's raining cats and dogs he will politely decline the option of going outside unless he needs to relieve himself.

Now I'm aware that this lesson can partly be interpreted as the inverse of Lesson #24 but I feel that the degree to which his behavior changes warrants a separate entry. I suppose that even adverse weather conditions are sometimes right as rain.

Lesson #26: The Warm Side of Bed is Best

Oscar is generally not allowed on furniture in our house. He is invited to go up on the couch in the basement whenever he pleases (usually when we're watching a movie) but all the other chairs and couches are off limits and he respects these guidelines. Frankly I'm surprised he understands the various rules we've laid out for him but he is a tenured professor after all.

The situation with our bed is a tad more complicated but we've managed to work out an arrangement that suits all of our needs. Everyone goes sleep in our respective sleeping spots: the humans in the big bed and the Professor in his little round pet bed. However, McLovin likes to get up with the sun which is often too early for us humans to rouse ourselves. To alleviate his need for attention at this ungodly hour he crawls up into the human bed where he rests peacefully until there's more action in the bed around him. Sometimes he decides he needs to sleep directly between the two of us in which case we're forced to get up earlier than we had planned.

On those occasions when one human gets out of bed while the other slumbers on Oscar immediately gravitates toward the space recently vacated. Maybe he does this to change things up, maybe he just wants to snuggle, but I think the real reason is the subject of today's lesson. It sure is a nice cozy way to ease into the day.

Lesson #25: When In Doubt, Put It In Your Mouth

When observing Professor McLovin go about his daily routine I am frequently reminded that all animals evolved from simple organisms with two orifices. That is because so much of what the Professor does involves his oral cavity: it is his prime method of interacting with the world. And it functions perfectly as a way to pick up virtually anything one finds in his proximity.

When humans come across a foreign object the last thing they are likely to do is to stick it between their lips to discern what it might be and whether it might be fun to play with. We use our hands with opposable thumbs or every other sense besides taste before we would take this seemingly drastic step. But for dogs it's an entirely different matter; thus today's lesson.


The pictures show Oscar playing with his newest toy: an oversized tennis ball. I wanted to get him a toy that he couldn't easily fit in his mouth but was also more durable than a soccer ball as he can destroy the latter in a few minutes. I thought this toy would have been too big for him to pick up and he would be forced to play with it by pushing it around with his snout. I apparently underestimated the professor: where there's a will there's a way.

Lesson #24: Heat Zaps Strength

At the beginning of every summer I think my dog is starting to finally grow out of his puppyhood. As the days grow longer and hotter, he gradually loses a lot of his energy and behaves much more calmly. He still likes to run around and chase his ball but his stamina is significantly reduced from his normal amount.

However, it's just a trick that the heat is playing on both of us and, alas, he is still the same crazy young pup with an unlimited supply of strength. The last few days have been closer to normal temperatures and consequently his energy is back to his normal level again. Maybe he'll never slow down entirely but at least his rate of teaching lessons remains consistent.