So after the pooping on the shoe incident, I let bygones be bygones. I buried the hatchet. I let that ship sail. Two cats in a tree is better that one in a pot. What? Yeah. Anyway I made it a point to win over the dog that so outwardly despised me. And it only took a bag of Beggin Strips, 10 cookies and a few cheese slices. Here is a photo breakdown of how I became one with the animal kingdom.
Notice the treat at the bottom of the picture? It took almost 30 minutes of pacing for Kootenee to decide that it was worth the risk to eat it. All my high pitched baby talk never did anything but cause him to cock his head right and left. The key to a dogs heart is through the stomach.
So this is how it went for an hour or so. I would drop a treat closer and he would inch cautiously, nab the cookie and bolt to the corner of the porch. He chewed while he eyeballed me, making sure I didn’t make any advancements. I did feel pretty good that he was comfortable enough to nap for a while. I stayed seated, drink a beer and texting, patiently waiting for the next opportunity of a friendly exchange. And when my attention was distracted I looked to my left to see this:
This took me by surprise to say the least. I sat there in shock that he was able to creep so close without me noticing. The worst part was the fact I had run out of treats. I sure would hate to disappoint after he gambled to come so close. So I took the opportunity and reached my hand out to pet him. AND HE ATE MY ARM!
Just kidding. No, he actually allowed me to rub behind his ears and he even put his head down on my leg as I pet him. Talk about a 180!I didn’t risk giving him a hug but I’ll take a good pet on the head. He’s a good boy.
Now there is a happy dog! Do you see the smile? Yep, we are pals and it’s a good thing too. It get’s lonely on the mountain and it nice not have a source of contention when it’s not needed. I stayed out as long as possible but here it gets cold at night and I had a baseball game calling me inside. I felt a little sad when I left him outside. I mean look at him.
Poor guy. Oh well, pretty soon his owner came home and it was his real dinner time. At times I can hear the goings on upstairs and I did feel a little guilty when Kootenee’s owner yelled, “Oh Kootenee, no!” I just hope all those treats didn’t lead to explosive diarrhea on the couch.
Casserole of Disaster 
While I’ve been touched by this heart warming story of a boy and his dog, I still think you need to make friends of the 3-D human variety. Boy + human friends – Tivo X new location = happy boy. 😉
I love your new picture, btw. 😉
Tis a good story, especially the happy ending, 😀
Glad that you now have a companion, although as a first time reader of your blog, I missed the point of “his owner came home”… ???
On another note: we once got a dog from a shelter, and after not long we had decided that it had probably been abused in its previous home as it was scared of absolutely everyone, especially males and especially my father (biggest male in the house)… The dog eventually warmed up to everyone, and eventually to my father after a part of the night of sitting, patting and many treats.
Ahhh happy endings good times 🙂 I am glad that you and him have an understanding now. I was afraid you were going to wake up with your face half eaten off. It makes me sad that you are lonely. Peace and quiet does get old sometimes then the loneliness sets in.
Ah, I should explain. I just moved to N. Idaho and I have to rent for a while. I have an apartment built onto a pretty large mountain house. The owner comes and goes every other month and I watch over his property. So, I had to make friends with the dog.
Hi Goob! I’m not too lonely. I have my imagination.
I like that happy pic of Kootenee. There’s a bit of “before the morph to Cujo” feel about it. 🙂
Now that you say that….
I’m glad that you can survive and not get cabin fever too quickly. But I am kinda hoping that you get it just enough to get desperate enough to give me a phone call lol.
I will! 🙂
Wanna take bets all that cheese didn’t sit too well with Mr. Kootanee? Poor puppy. I’m glad you’re friends now. 🙂
I bet you are right. It was aged sharp cheddar. The good stuff too.
that is the cutest doggie. glad you made friends.
Me too. I agree, he is a cute. 🙂
See he likes you afterall! At least he did before you gave him all that cheese.
Right? How can a dog that I saw carrying a dead bird around be lactose intolerant?
Sure, he likes you…as long as you keep the treats coming.
I think my coat has Beggin Strip smell from keeping them in my pockets. Oh well, I have been known to make friends through bribery.
Awww…Glad you won him over…. 🙂
It only took 30 lbs of treats! And patience.
That’s how you MAKE doggie friends, dontcha kno?
I have perma-stink im all my coats from carrying doggie treats.