<p>This thread is a lot of fun to read! Our current lab Henry has eaten cellphones, remote controls, an SAT study book, shoes (Tom’s he was trying to save the planet) and various other things, but is an angel compared to o,ur previous labs. Wilson used to eat poop, but only his (or cat poop) and it had to be toasted in the sun. He also had a passion for women’s underwear. We found a guest’s underwear in the garden once. Awkward. But the worst was Whitney, a female chocolate lab. She would open the refrigerator and take whatever she wanted out of it. She was quite gifted, despite child locks, baby gates and a variety of other things she would still somehow get to the refrigerator. And the worst part was that then the refrigerator door would be left open the rest of the day, spoiling the food inside. At first we had two dogs, and everytime the refrigerator was open, we would blame both of them. And Rufus (our black lab) looked way more guilty than Whitney. But then we decided to leave tape it on a video camera. You can hear our car pull out of the drive way. Rufus then runs to the bedroom and Whitney immediately opens the refrigerator pulls out leftover pizza and goes to town. Rufus was not always innocent. Our neighbors across the street were caterers. We would come home and despite our 6 feet fences, our backyard would be litered with catering containers.</p>
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<p>Yep. Even if someone knocks on a door on TV.</p>
<p>Our dogs (and cat) all know the meaning of the word “eat.” The dogs know the difference between “go potty” and “go nite nite” (i.e. get in your crate) even if you use the same intonation. My golden doodle will react appropriately to “where’s Daisy” or “where’s Mow Mow,” “where’s your ball” and “where’s your chewy?”</p>
<p>Yes, the cartoon is funny and probably true to a great extent when we expect a little more comprehension than our animals are capable of, but it’s also true that dogs can understand not only non verbal cues and tone of voice, but actual words as well.</p>
<p>^ I have long declared that my only gifted child is my dog.</p>
<p>@sew- that is adorable. </p>
<p>My last dog would literally attack the tv every time something with 4 legs was on there. Sometimes she would run behind it and try to find the animal. She was huge (120ish pounds) and would often get herself stuck behind the tv. I couldn’t watch Beethoven for years!</p>
<p>We trained Batman, our black lab, to ring a bell when he needs to go potty outside. We come to his aid and open the door. Well, it didn’t take long for him learn that the bell’s other use is a “people getter.” Now he rings it whenever he wants something.</p>
<p>Ding dong - it’s time for dinner
Ding dong - let’s play fetch
Ding dong - rub my belly
Ding dong - change my water</p>
<p>We’re trained well, too, because we actually stop what we’re doing and comply with his wishes. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>This thread keeps me laughing . . . </p>
<p>Just a reminder of the Thanksgiving Westminster Dog Show coming up. </p>
<p>Although Izzie, our Jack Russell, seems immune from feeling guilt or remorse she is very good at looking at me with a very reproachful expression – especially if it rains. She seems to think that I control the weather. I guess because I basically control the kitchen that means I control the universe . . .</p>
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<p>Change “Ding dong” to “Look pathetic, whine, and be annoying” and that’s JUST what Ellie (our lab) does too!!</p>
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<p>May I mention animals of the feline persuasion here? Our cat discovered that one of the lamps in our bedroom turns on and off by touch. Did you know that “touch” includes the touch of a cat’s nose when said cat wants to be petted at 3am? (Still have the cat, but finally got rid of the lamp.)</p>
<p>These stories are hysterical. The picture of the dog greeting its owner with the pad stuck to its head, well, it just doesn’t get better than that.</p>
<p>I guess our black lab was naughty, but I blamed myself for not training her better.
She didn’t usually get into the garbage but there were a couple times when even though it was in the cupboard under the sink she got into a chicken carcass ( and then had to be taken to the vet to be watched)</p>
<p>She also would jump up on the couch as soon as we shut the front door, even when she was " asleep" elsewhere when we left.
When she thought we were asleep, she would make a move to jump up on the bed, but if we caught her she would pretend she was just stretching.</p>
<p>When she was a young dog, I would find butter wrappers under her bed.
Also when she was teething, she gnawed many of the wooden knobs & pulls on the family room furniture, I had put bitter apple on them, but it just made it more delicious.
I learned to put hot oil on them instead.</p>
<p>I finally learned not to stick my fingers in her mouth when she found something to eat on a walk- it was probably cat poop.
She also dearly loved to eat the cats food & when she was elderly and had less appetite, even though our cats had been gone for a while, I would get her to eat, by putting her food into a tuna fish can. </p>
<p>She now has been gone for a couple years & I still can’t bring myself to get another dog yet.</p>
<p>^^^^Aw, emeraldkity4, that’s touching. Our lab is elderly and I know the golden doodle will be just as devastated as our family will be when she goes. I don’t know whether or not I’ll have the emotional energy to get another dog once our two have left us.</p>
<p>I guess she actually hasn’t been gone for a couple years- just about 15 months.
It seems like longer though. 
My mom died two years ago, and even though our lab was not doing so great at the time, I was determined to keep her going.
She had bad days but still had good days too, so it was hard to know what to do.
However, when the end came it was pretty quick & easy to tell.</p>
<p>She was such a good dog, despite the stories, that I have a very high bar for a new pet!</p>
<p>@lizard, my dog had the same toilet paper thing when he got older. I never could understand it. @sew happy, your dog has you well trained…I hope when your order"her" pizza you know which toppings she likes!</p>
<p>My dog had broad tastes. She would eat cat food, but when I brought home a container of lemon fennel chicken from the local deli, she licked the container so clean that it looked like it was brand new- all before I could even get a bite!</p>
<p>sewhappy, if you truly ordered pizza just to make the dog happy you are my kind of people :-).</p>
<p>One of our dogs is a counter surfer. I learned to place things FAR from his reach. Until…I placed a prime rib (cooked) up high and very deep. trust me…deep. Well, I left the room for a second and he got it.</p>
<p>He was so excited that as husband tried to pull it out of his mouth…(no bones btw) he peed. </p>
<p>My husband got the meat back…filled with dog drool and teeth marks. We went out to dinner.</p>
<p>LOL, ellebud. Sounds very familiar. Once our dog lifted a pork chop off the hot grill and was sooo proud of himself! DH pried it our of poor Charlie’s mouth and tossed in the garbage. The dog got his regular doggie kibble for dinner that night.</p>
<p>I was going to write more about my “giulty dog”, but can’t do it without tearing up. On Halloween night he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge… He was the best dog in the world.</p>
<p>Do consider the dog’s point of view: every day they have to endure watching people prepare, cook & eat the most delicious things. Cooking fills the entire house with the aroma of roasting meat. And then, day after day, they get fed the same old dry kibble in a dish. Unless of course their owner decides to give them a treat… which usually means they are expected to first prove they are slavishly obedient, as the must sit/beg/shake hands/ roll over… or whatever silly thing their owner wants.</p>
<p>So yeah… they steal the good stuff whenever they get the chance. Wouldn’t you?</p>
<p>Our dog always got treats when we grilled, but only after the alphas had their dinner. On his birthday I grilled a large steak - just for him. :)</p>
<p>Bunsen: I am so sorry! Part of my moniker is a dog who crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We love our dogs. The counter surfer…the cosabella pooper…and the vixen on a leash.</p>
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<p>Heck yeah. I’ve even been known to steal my kids’ Halloween candy out of their little plastic pumpkins (wags tail nervously, bares teeth in a tortured grin).</p>
<p>:D</p>