As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Alayne and I have been hounded (literally and figuratively) for years by dogs insisting on sharing our meals with us. We have — yes, it is true — aided and abetted this culinary extortion.
Each of the dogs has his or her own unique way of pressuring us to give them something from our plates. Bailey a.k.a. Bugsy's technique is the laser-like stare I discussed yesterday. Blind Goldie's approach is purely physical — she'll paw at us and our chairs relentlessly until we surrender some food. Blind Widget combines multiple techniques — vocal, physical, and her own version of "the stare" — into one sure-fire interrogation method to get what she wants. She will stand up on her hind legs, put her little front paws on the edge of my chair, stare intensely at me, and then let loose with some loud woo-woo-woo's. Very effective technique, that one.
(Have I mentioned what it's like to try cooking in the kitchen with this crowd?)
So Alayne and I decided it was time (um, after how many years?) to regain control of our dining room and kitchen and drive the little barbarians out. The answer was a doggie gate with extra panels from Foster & Smith.
Now whenever we are ready to cook or eat, the Huns are placed on the other side of the gate in the living room. In the photo that's Widget on the left, Goldie, and Dexter on the right. Daisy is in the back behind Goldie. (Blind Callie is conked out on the bed and doesn't care.) Bailey had somehow managed to stay in the dining room for this photo but was soon placed on the other side.
Of course, the gate doesn't stop them from standing there and continuing to stare at us, but it just isn't as intense — and thus as effective — as when they're swirling around our chairs at the table.
They also know that once we are done eating, Alayne always manages to bring them some saved morsels from our plates. So in the end, they still get what they want — and isn't that the only thing that matters to a barbarian?
Rolling Dog Farm Blog 
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