Does your doodle resent your hobbies?

[Frannie & Callie]

As much as I love Callie, I do have a few hobbies she can't actively participate in. There seem to be 4 main culprits in Callie's eyes...tennis, reading, crocheting, and watching TV. I can get why she doesn't like tennis...she doesn't get to play (no thumbs), and she is either left at home or taken to the matches but not allowed to chase all those wonderful tennis balls. Reading, television watching, and crocheting are all done at home though, and usually with Callie in my lap. Why oh why then does she feel compelled to attack and destroy innocent remote controls, stationary books, and cozily piled skeins of yarn?

 

I KNOW I attribute too much human motivation to Callie's action, but the dog has removed a book from my hands before...that just can't be happenstance!

 

Has anyone else experienced their doodle targeting hobbies, and has anyone discovered a cure/balance?

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Harlow will steal the remote control when DH and I are watching TV. I now either spend TV time brushing her or throwing a soft toy for to fetch. Though last night was different. We were watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. I swear that Harlow was watching too. She climbed in the chair by DH, laid her head on the arm rest and stared at the TV. I think she was rooting for the Standard Poodle. =0D

[Frannie & Callie]

That's so funny! Callie loved watching the Westminster too...night one, she loved the Luchow (Callie loves little dogs) and night two, she went over to the tv and wagged her tail at the flat-coated retriever. It was pretty darn cute. I'm making an afghan for my aunt (it's a super big one...she and her boyfriend just moved in together, so I'm making them a "bicycle built for two" afghan) and if Callie keeps pulling the yarn around the den and pulling out completed rows, I'm not going to finish until August! Last winter (pre-Callie) I made four of these suckers!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I have a bigger problem with Cleo our cat when I am crocheting. She wraps herself in the yarn or picks up the ball and starts mewling over it like it is a kitten. To keep her from pulling out stitches I use a safety pin in the last stitch in the row. I also use the safety pins as row count markers as I do a lot of pineapple patterns.

[Frannie & Callie]

I am going to start using safety pins - thanks for the tip! Fortunately this is a simple pattern so I don't feel like I'm trying to re-create the wheel all the time! I'm going to a knitting class next week...Callie probably won't approve of that either!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

If I am reading, Peri lures Taquito right next to me and they start playing....almost on my lap. It is hilarious, but annoying. I can only read in bed now - when it is "sleep time" as Peri knows it and she is on her bed on the floor next to me....

[Frannie & Callie]

That's so funny, and kind of blows my theory that if Callie had a friend, I could get more done!!! She's just so cute though!!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

No, most of the time they like to play together on top of my feet, next to me on the couch, etc....it is hilarious...good thing they are both small (24 and 7 pounds!).

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Ours do this too. My DH and I are always saying, "Do you have to play right on top of me?" Guess they want to be close to you no matter what!

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

If I try to watch TV (usually one of my favorite shows), Yankee starts bringing me toys. If I ignore him, he barks at me. If I am on the computer, he lays his chin on the keyboard. Finn doesn't bug me yet. He lays on the couch beside me and I brush him while he sleeps.

[T. Byrne]

Rue used to hate "homework", so anything book related. She likes sewing...but thinks everything is her toy. But, unlike Allyson, getting a second dog did wonders! They play by themselves, they LEAVE me when I'm cooking to play outside :) Rue used to have separation anxiety, which resulted in some destruction but mainly bad manners upon my return. With Sadie there now, she will bark and act upset for four minutes max! Of course, they play inside more now that there is a tug partner...but I can live with that. I get lots more work done and Rue is a tired girl without me having to get exhausted as well!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

No, I didn't mean getting a second dog hasn't done wonders! They have a great time playing by themselves a lot of the time. But there are also times when they want to be right next to me - or Taquito is tired of playing and wants laptime, but Peri won't give up. Taquito being a chihuahua makes the whole play time different that having two dogs of the same size.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Sounds like my house- they just want attention! I can't relax on the sofa and watch TV, stay on the computer too long, talk on the phone for more than a few minutes........ Can't blame them- home alone most of the day. I end up getting in bed to read and watch TV and sometimes, just sometimes that works. Other times Tucker is bringing me the ball in bed!