Lucas and the squeaker

We have gobs of dog toys. We have ropes and busy bones, Kongs and brand new Wubbas, balls and frisbees, and lots of things that started off as something new and shiny but now look like they’re some sort of slobbery fabric-creature. The boys always have something to play with. They have indoor toys to play with and outdoor toys to play with. They have toys sprinkled around the house, ready for them to play, play, play.

And they do love to play.

Except, they only want to play with the toy that the other one has. Even if there’s an array of toys spread around Lucas, if Emmett walks over and selects the most boring, plain, old rope out of the bunch, all of a sudden Lucas WANTS THAT ROPE. So much so that he leaps up, dive bombs Emmett, and nose-bops him until Emmett relents.

So Emmett usually drops it, gives his version of a shoulder shrug, and saunters off while Lucas gleefully shakes the rope back and forth, reveling in his victory. Ah, but victory is short lived. Because Emmett has wandered over and picked up a ball. And now, oh my goodness, screw the stupid rope! Lucas MUST HAVE THAT BALL.

Rinse. Repeat. Forty times a day.

Yesterday I posted a pic of Emmett guarding his Wubba from Lucas even while he dozed. Lucas decided his toy of the day was the squeaker. But he couldn’t let the squeaker get in the way of his daily to-do list (barking at the mailman, guarding the house from the front, barking at nothing, guarding the house from the balcony, barking at the FedEx guy, guarding the house from the guest bedroom, barking at the neighbor who so dutifully waters her gorgeous lawn each night, etc.). So he brought it with him. Oh, but where to put it when your barking/guarding duties are so pressing? Ah! Yes! Here we go!

Why didn’t I ever think of perching it on the windowsill before? But what happens with the sentry must move? Here Lucas guards our house while watching out the balcony door. But for the shift change…

Perfect! Lucas can guard the house from the front AND preclude Emmett from touching the squeaker. Victory! For today anyway…