I'm sorry to say, but sometimes I wonder about Murphy.
It started when we moved to Germany three and a half years ago. Before, we trekked to the end of our Oregon cul-de-sac and grabbed mail from the mail box. Now, envelopes and magazines are shoved daily through a little swinging mail slot in our front door. Sounds great, you say?
Well, think again. Murphy takes it as a personal affront that SOME HORRIBLE MONSTER IS TRYING TO SNEAK INTO OUR HOME! MUST ATTACK! So each time, he charges the mail slot, hoping to dismember an evil sneaker--who's obviously entering to rape and pillage.
He's actually torn the mail slot off the front door...and I'm afraid for the day when Murphy gets hold of a thumb or set of fingers.
We've tried positive reinforcement--one of us restrains the dog while another family member flips the mail slot back and forth--then we reward Murphy for not attacking. But this dog has incredibly short-term memory. Maybe if we spent twelve hours of intensive training, then he'd learn?
He's usually a sweetie. Just not when mail slots are involved.
P.S. In the photo, Murphy's sitting in front of a massive mound of sugar beets, a crop that's harvested in this part of Germany during late fall.
6 comments:
This was HYSTERICAL!!! Made me laugh out loud. I hope Murphy gains some self control before he hurts somebody...
Whew. Good luck! :)
What a great dog you have! :)
You are much younger than me, Africakid, but I so do relate to your free spirit and finding your way to all sorts of places on this wonderful planet!
Does he shred the mail, though? My dh is a mailman and cringes when delivering huge photos through those mail slots because many a time the dog on the other side grabs the mail and shreds it to bits. Dog and papershredder in a one :)
Stupid dog does shred. Got my college diploma.
Sorry to say so, but this cracked me up! Hope you eventually find a solution!
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