A bathtime bamboozle

When the reward is a clean dog, you have to play a sneaky end run.

You know that Fabes, Mistress of Mighty Wags, might fearlessly face down a coyote -- but she cries about being wet. She loathes being scrubbed. 

But as the poor beast got a skin infection (no idea how, we thought it was an allergic reaction until the vet said otherwise), we weren't able to wait for her regular grooming. She had a swarm of angry bumps on her (otherwise perfect) back. 

She needed a scrub. Stat.

This mean hubs and I needed a strategy. 

We approached it the way many pet parents have to: we strategized like we were planning for the Superbowl. We counted steps from room-to-room. We figured out hand gestures and planned the decoy -- aka the fish treats so brilliantly represented in my sketch. 

A Big Blind Bathtime Bamboozle was born. 

Fabes is instantly suspicious of Hubs whenever he's a) in shorts and b) near the washroom, so that was out. He had to hide just around the corner. 

It was up to me to lure her out with the power of mama-voice and crunchy fish treatos. 

The play went something like this:

1) I got Fabes off the couch and distracted her with treats for tricks. We do sit, down, shake, twirl and bang. Then I go for gold with a down + stay combo. 

2) I move from the Sulk Salon to our patch of hallway, just past the bathroom door. 

3) I call Fabes to me with the promise of a reward for doing such a good stay. 

4) Maintaining sweet mama-voice, I say "now" as a cue to the hubs. He doesn't catch on, so I say it again, this time louder. Then a third time. 

5) Fabes is now suspicious. 

6) Hubs finally barrels around the corner

7) BETRAYAL

8) Bath water goes everywhere. 

9) The dane is clean.

I'm not going to lie, the lengths we have to go to with this dog are both epic and hilarious. And it turned out hubs had sneaky-filmed the entire play, capturing Fable's utter look of betray moments before he (lovingly) tackled her into the washroom. 

In case you're worried, the Greatest Dane smelled great and clearly felt like a million bucks when she was unleashed. Soggy, wagging, and grinning as only a dog can, she rubbed her head over all the furniture and rolled on her bed until she was dry. Bath and meds, and she's all better now.

Until next time, Fabes hopes you enjoy the smells. And I hope you enjoy the sneak peak at my upcoming release, The Harpy In White, which is out April 12th under my Dee St. Holm name. 

Luv, 
Dee