Ignore the Dog

When we use the phrase:  Usually, it's used when Patches turns into Devil Dog between 7:00 to 9:00 at night.  He's a collie.  He barks.  You tell him to stop, you're reinforcing the behavior.  You look at the ceiling and ignore him, he's losing the one thing he's trying to get. 

Last night was a new one.  He always barks at the cats coming in for a cuddle.  But yesterday, he figured out that he could get a rise out of us if he gets really crazy in his barking at the cats.  And we figured out we have to ignore him.  While he barks loudly in an enclosed space and a close distance.  Dave and I are lying in bed, trying to be very quiet, not reading our books (Dave:  Harry Potter) and waiting for Devil Dog to calm down.  And trying not to laugh as Patches's barks become incredibly low, intermittent, and cute.  Cuz that would totally reinforce the wrong behavior.  WOOFWOOFWOOFWOOF WOOF WOOOOF WOOFWOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF....WOOF... Woof...... Woof..... wooof....ahhhwooof.... ahhhh ....woof .... ahhhhh.... ahhhh .... ahhh.............  (The ahhhs are sort of a pre-woof when he's trying to talk to us.  and it does sound like ahhhhh.  The rescue person told us it was "collie talk.")

When Patches uses the phrase:  I've only seen Patches "use" the phrase Ignore the Dog once.  Dave and I were outside eating dinner on the deck.  Patches was outside with us most of the evening.  Then he wasn't.  And we noticed it was awfully quiet in the house.  Dave went in to investigate.  30 seconds later, Patches charges out the doggie door with half a loaf of sourdough bread in his mouth.  Patches is a very attention seeking dog, most of the time.  In full flight with contraband bread, though, I saw one eye look at me with the expression:  Ignore the dog!  Ignore the dog!  You do not see the dog.   

So yes, we are reading Harry Potter.  No spoilers please.  I've had to avert my eyes from the Internet, sing lalalalalalalalala while someone on the radio discussed it (I frightened Duncan with that one), and generally ignore anything that says Harry Potter on it.  OK!

Off to get paint to paint/stain the deck. 

7:54:26 AM