The Canine Cleptomaniac

[jen w.]

Anyone who has a doodle is probably familiar with their tendency to "borrow" things that don't belong to them. I've been told by the "experts" who own pure-bred labs or goldens, that "borrowing" things must surely be the "crazy poodle" side of doodle-ism. On the otherhand, at least one poodle owner I know assures me that it couldn't possibly be the poodle side but rather "it's those nutty retrievers, you know"....

Whichever side of Beasley's lineage brought it on, Beasley is without a doubt a very serious kleptomaniac. The tendency began while he was still a pup and continues to this day. Beasley regards anything he finds desirable -- whether on the street, in my home, or on other people's property --  to be his.

On several occasions, incidents have occurred after I've accidentally left the back gate open. By the time I realized it, Beasley was usually half-way down the street. (...I know what you're thinking, dear reader. You are once again pondering the poor training of this dog; the haphazard attempts that must have been made to correct such deviant behaviour!.) Oh, Beasley will come back, I can testify to that --  just not before he's stolen a treasure from some unsuspecting passer-by or off a front porch or from someone's backyard.

Once, I chased him for two blocks before I finally caught up to him, circling a man washing his car. Up jumped the massive doodle, snatching the brush from the poor man's hand. I got him cornered on the man's front porch but he managed to avoid me, and tore off for home. Mortified, I ran after him, shouting behind me, ."I'll get it back for you, sir. I promise. I'll get it back...!" I did get it back.. but not before the wooden brush was covered with tooth marks. The man was nice about it but I got the usual look..(aka.."Lady, that dog needs training:")

On another open-gate occasion, I hadn't even noticed he was gone until Beasley returned with a teddy bear he'd apparently taken from someone's yard. ....I never found out whose yard or the child to whom it belonged. (Nor did I ever discover which neighbour would be looking at us as we walked past their house everyday and say..."so THAT"S the owner...") Whenever I look at that bear, which he sleeps with to this day, I feel a keen sense of guilt at my poor parenting skills!

There are indeed many neighbours who now know Beasley better than they know me. Several have helped in the merry chase up the street over the years. Several more have lost flower beds to his excursions. I always apologize profusely, even offer, on occasion, to replace the landscaping. Mostly, they are polite and understanding -- to my face that is!

The evening after recycling pick-up is always especially fruitful. Often, we return home with paper cups, egg cartons, cigarette packages, cardboard, and once...even a rusty tailpipe that he picked up lying in the gutter.  His mouth full of some piece of trash, we pass other dog walkers, usually accompanied by calmer dogs who carry sticks or balls in their mouths.  I just say, "He doesn't believe in littering!' which often draws a chuckle.

[BG and Gavin]

If Marmaduke was a doodle, he would be Beasley!  I continue to love hearing about his misadventures!