The Consummate Professional

When my wife read Marley and Me, she came away saying that the dog (Marley) was not that bad.  Her attitude is what it is because we live with Caleb.  Caleb is a big, red Doberman who is known to some as Dealo, to others as Stoopie as well as a host of names.

For most of his life, Caleb has been thought of as stupid -- not capable of learning.  His bad behavior is usually attributed to this lack of mental capacity.  Occasionally, we will encounter someone who claims that we are just misunderstanding him, that behind the blank stares, this dog is really quite intelligent.  I don't really buy this as there is just too much evidence to the contrary.

I still have to give credit where credit is due.  Caleb is a game changer -- like Lawrence Taylor on the football field of Michael Jordan on the basketball court, he must be accounted for on every play.  Leave a bag of flour on the counter while we go to work Caleb will eat it.  Need to leave the kitchen while fixing dinner, call someone to keep an eye on Caleb until you get back.

We keep a heavy pan on the lid of the trash can to keep him from going through it.  He regularly checks to make sure it is there and if it is not, he goes through the trash.  He has a regular routine he goes through whenever someone leaves the house.  First, the trash can, then the counters and finally the cat box.  Leaving the house requires a checklist of Caleb-proofing activities.

Recently, we hired a dogsitter when we were going to be out of town.  The dogsitter was warned about Caleb, but still probably thought it was strange that we kept the oatmeal on the window sill over the sink.  After having some oatmeal, she left it on the counter and before she knew it Caleb was dining on oatmeal.  I doubt that dry oatmeal can taste that good, but Caleb has eaten it before and regularly does whenever it is available.  Like Taylor or Jordan, he makes you pay for your mistakes.