Daisy’s “Tell”

Poker players have it. Dogs have it as well – the “tell”. Those little signs that betray their…sneakier…intentions. With poker players, it’s the little twitch, movement, or slight gesture  that informs their observant opponents that either they’re bluffing or have a great hand. With dogs, it’s those out-of-the-norm little behaviors that scream “TROUBLE” to observant owners.

Rats! Foiled again!

They may be chewing on something forbidden – like the furniture or your best shoes – or they may be sneaking off as quietly as possible into an obscure corner of the room with a forbidden object. Of course, “forbidden” translates into “irresistible” in doggy psychology!

Daisy’s tell is that she can’t  help chewing on a forbidden item she’s snatched while she quietly slinks off to an occupied corner. Actually, that’s three tells – she’s TOO quiet (not normal!), she tries not to attract any attention (definitely not normal!), and she goes where no one else is (freakishly not normal!).

A couple of weeks ago, I was clearing out my purse when a cellophane mint wrapper must have fallen out and slipped to the floor without my noticing it. Out of nowhere, I suddenly heard a crackling sound moving away from me and ultimately stopping in a remote area of the family room. I went into the room and turned on the light and there it was –  little Daisy sitting hunched in a corner with her back to the room and the guiltiest look I’ve ever seen. The crackling sound stopped as soon as the light went on; she’d been chewing on the mint wrapper. As I raced over to get it away from her, she took her last best shot at achieving her goal – her chewing went into double-time speed, but fortunately I was able to get the wrapper out of her mouth before she swallowed it. Whew! That was a close call!

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