Amber is a 4-year-old, 95-pound yellow lab who thinks she is a lap dog. Every day when I’m sitting at the computer, she tries her best to climb up in my chair with me. This results in a lot of laughter (on my part), face-licking (on hers), hugs, and some colorful bruised spots on my legs.
She also SAYS she wants us to throw a ball (or one of her other squeeky toys or ropes) for her. There is a lot of drama in the game. She brings the toy with great enthusiasm (I don’t really understand how she manages to smile with a ball in her mouth, but she does, making it squeak as she comes to us, shaking her head to break the ball’s neck.
We hold out our hands for her to give us the ball so we can throw it. She doesn’t really want us to THROW the ball as much as she wants to engage us while she lords it over us that the ball is HERS. She actually wants us to play Tug of War. She will actually put the ball in our hands, but won’t let go of it. She will pull it away, eyes twinkling, then run around and around the living room, squeaking the ball madly, return to us again to tease us, over and over.
Finally, when we give up, she drops the ball in our lap. We throw the ball, she dashes to get it, bringing it back eyes filled with triumph. She really would LIKE for us to play Tug of War, but she can pull us up right out of our chairs, so we aren’t excited about that challenge.
Would you like to come over and play with Amber for awhile?
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