Found Treasures

Mickey is very cute at the end of walks. He always tries to find something to bring back into the house with him.

After he does his business he starts busily sniffing around looking for the best leaf in the courtyard. If he forgets to grab something, then he'll stop at a bush by the lower landing to yank a stick off. Once he has his prize in his mouth he races up the stairs and is very antsy to get back inside. Then he tries to run away with his feet sliding in place on the linoleum (Loony Toons style) until I can unlatch his leash. Then he's free!

He runs to his hideout (the bottom of the stairs) and starts chomping away at his little treasure. I usually give him the time it takes to get my shoes and coat off before I confiscate the fun and throw it away. Usually I have to fish leaf pulp or stick pieces out of the carpet and his mouth.

There are times that this is annoying, but usually it leaves me laughing like a maniac outside. When he has something in his mouth he holds his head and ears high and he is so proud to be walking with it.

Today he picked up a stick 2 feet long. He had it sticking out of his mouth like a lance, charging his way home. It lasted until the first curb he had to jump up...stick hit the curb and flew out of his mouth and that was the end of it.

I leave you with a picture I took of one of his more ambitious treasures. I had to wait until we were back inside..I should bring a camera along on our walks...

It is a plastic flyer that is folded 'hot dog' style. He picked it up so that the folded piece was up right in front of his face. This meant he couldn't see a thing, but that didn't deter him! He felt his way up all three stories of steps by putting up one or two tentative paws, trying to guess where the next step was located. On the landings he went in the general direction of the next stair and usually ended up hitting it with his chest... but he made it to the top with no major falls or stumbles (he wisely took it very slowly). Once inside he paraded around with his treasure until he finally breached the plastic coating and it was taken away.

I apologize for the quality of this picture