Dutchess of Poodles

The dogs are starting to adjust to their fearless leader. And though we maintain a zero tolerance policy for dogs fighting back, I really do feel for them. From the moment she wakes up, Edie is all about the dogs. I have caught her patty-caking Sugar's face, and plonking plastic nesting cups, one after the other, atop Billy's head, laughing hysterically while saying "hat!!".

But the best aspect of Edie's reign of canine terror has to be her marching with determination at the dogs, right arm raised just above shoulder height and index finger jutting out of her clenched fist, yelling "BOW!" She didn't come up with this on her own. Billy actually can bow. Awhile back, pre-baby and pre-JD + PhD - shall we say The Era of Timeonourhands - I taught Billy to bow by giving him a treat and saying the command whenever he slid his front paws out and shined that butt to the sky in order to stretch out from a long afternoon of napping. Food motivated fatty that he is, he learned it quickly. An exhaustive list of his other tricks includes high fives, rolling over, and sitting. He will also run through a tunnel if you ask, and he performs a vigorous erotic dance with his pillow, but I can't take credit for these tricks. They are all Billy. Back to the point, though, Edie has really taken to this "bow" command.

So much does the little lady enjoy telling her dogs to bow (optimistic toddler does try to get Sugar to bow too, even though the tiny dog's brain may actually be a dried apricot thus rendering her incapable of such complex tasks) that she also commands others to bow. Strangers on the subway. Friends over for a visit. And I've oft caught her warming up her vocal cords by herself in her bed upon waking up from a nap yelling out "Bow!!" "High Five!" "BoooooW!!!" to an imaginary, and obedient, friend.

We are finding Germans difficult to train in this regard, but hopefully the gentile Southerners of Nashville will be a bit more agreeable to Her Highness's wishes. Until then, Edie will have to focus on getting her poodle minions in line.