Can you keep a secret? Last week Dad was away, so that meant we were living by “Mom’s Rules.” Mom’s rules are actually dog rules, but Asa and I like to make her think she is in charge. This way we get what we want and Mom is none the wiser, and can say with a clear conscience when Dad returns that we were “good” boys.

Take for example the no dogs on the furniture rule. The first evening Mom was sitting on the couch by herself, and looking rather lonely. So Asa casually walked over, jumped on the couch, and settled in next to Mom as if this was normal. She was so happy to have a friend to cuddle with that she didn’t snap the “off” command like she would if Dad was home. Instead, she cuddled with Asa while he enjoyed some rare couch time.

Now at bedtime, Mom was well aware that it would be breaking the rules to allow us on the bed. Therefore, I had no choice but the invoke my “it’s for your own good to bend the rules” tactic. While Mom and Asa cuddled on the couch, I would occasionally jump to my paws and start barking at the door. Not just any bark. A snarling, growling bark saved for only when zombies or squirrels are breaking into our home. Mom at first dismissed it as me being unsettled that Dad wasn’t home. So I added to my act some pacing and whimpering, with the occasional long stare at nothing. This eventually led Mom to start questioning our safety alone. Maybe there was something lurking beyond that door? It also helped that she happened to be watching a spooky TV show. So when bedtime came, up we all went to Mom’s room to protect her by sleeping on the bed.

Not all nights ended this way though. Some nights Mom would fall asleep on the couch watching TV with Asa on her lap. This was the perfect opportunity for Asa and I to binge watch our favorite shows. So when Mom would inevitably wake up at a good point during the show, Asa would pretend he was sleeping and snuggle in more closely. Not wanting to disturb her little buddy, Mom would quietly watch the show with me, until she inevitably fell asleep on the couch again. Sure the next morning she would complain about her aching back and neck, but Asa and I enjoyed those nights of binge watching TV.

Walks were another way we made Mom feel like she was in charge when in all reality she wasn’t. It is easier for Mom to walk us individually, so I went first. Normally Dad likes to keep us moving at a quick pace with no opportunities to get caught up on the latest sniffs. But Mom is more amiable at a slower pace. So just by subtly walking a tad slower, she thinks she is in command of the heel, while I have more opportunities to catch up on the sniffs along the road. I had her so fooled, that I even heard her telling a friend that I walk better at a heel for her than I do for Dad!

Now while out on one of these walks, Mom, who is a bit absent minded, forgot and left the gate to upstairs open. We have a strict no dogs upstairs rule when the humans aren’t home. But Asa couldn’t help taking advantage of the situation. He had a grand time dancing his way up and down the stairs. However in dancing, as in life, timing is everything. Asa was upstairs when he heard us return. I got to hand it to the little guy, he sure can think fast when he needs to! Asa pounced on a stash of stuffed animals awaiting surgery, and greeted Mom at the door with a toy in his mouth and the most concerned look on his face. Mom immediately felt bad that she had forgotten to sew them sooner, and got to work mending them after Asa’s walk. In fact it wasn’t until later when she was chatting with Grandma and describing how adorable Asa looked with that toy, that she realized he had to go upstairs to get it!

There were a few other ways we convinced Mom into thinking she was in charge, but we can’t reveal all of our tricks. Let’s just say Asa and I enjoyed a great week with Mom, but are also happy that Dad has returned.