The man with the orange face

Tobia: "For once I am going to ask what that howl was about?"
Peggy: "Oh dear, oh dear, wait till I catch my breath...."
Tobia: "But are you laughing or crying?"
Peggy: "Oh how could he..."
Tobia: "Now I am getting seriously worried, what is it?"
Peggy: "It's that little man with the orange face. He is saying that he never was voted out of office."
Tobia: "Well, if you don't count the votes from the spread, then he is right, you know."
Peggy: "I know, and that says a lot about the political system. No, what I am laughing AND crying about is the second part of his statement: He goes on to say that he stepped back showing responsibility and elegance!"

Balance

Tobia: "This is not going to be easy."
Peggy: "What now?"
Tobia: "Now that the tall one is back, I have to make a balance sheet?"
Peggy: "Why on earth? It's a waste of time, we've got things to do!"
Tobia: "Let me do this properly:
On the negative side:

1. No more couch time
2. No more sleeping in the bed
3. No barking in the garden

On the positive side:

1. Dog treats
2. Back scratches
3. Walks (?)
4. More attention to us.

Peggy: "I told you, it is a waste of time!"
Tobia: "Why, I am not even finished yet."
Peggy: "You can make as many lists as you want - he is here and so are we. You should just concentrate on getting the most out of it. Now come on outside!"

Realistic

Peggy: “What know? You have the face of someone who almost caught a rabbit!”

Tobia: “That is more or less the case.”

Peggy: “Rabbits? in the garden? Where???”

Tobia: “No, of course there are no rabbits in the garden. But we are in the garden – that is what bothers me.”

Peggy: “Well, we are quite often in the garden. On our own or with the tall one. What’s new?”

Tobia: “It’s just that I had imagined going for a long walk or going to that place where I can run free.”

Peggy: “I didn’t hear anything about going anywhere.”

Tobia: “I guess you are right, I just hoped that we might …”

Peggy: “You can’t really blame anybody for the things you’ve made up in your mind, you know that of course.”

Tobia: “I know, it’s just…. Never mind.”

Peggy: “Get over it, be realistic – those two can’t read our thoughts. And if you have an ill-defined hope, they are even worse off… and consequently so are you!”

Gates

Tobia: "How is the work coming?"

Peggy: "What are you talking about?"

Tobia: "I note that you once again answered with a question."

Peggy: "Naturally, I have to know what you are hinting at, don't I?"

Tobia: "The gate upstairs. You just came down after trying to break through, so naturally I would like you to share your experience with me."

Peggy: "Hm, like the tall one keep saying: Never show a work in progress to an idiot."

Tobia: "I ask you a polite question and then I am an idiot?

Peggy: "I never said you were an idiot! I know why you asked anyway - you want to hear that I am giving up. I am not! It just takes a little longer than expected that's all!"

Read more on www.hvempukler.com/TobiaPeggy

Ways of obtaining what you want

Peggy: "Why don't you stop whining?"

Tobia: "I'm not whining, I am politely asking to get noticed."

Peggy: "Whatever - you know they don't like it and that it might even be counterproductive."

Tobia: "I don't think so, at times they need to be reminded about our presence."

Peggy: "You mean that at times you want to be spoiled? That's called begging and it is degrading."

Tobia: "What is so degrading about that? Is it the old discussion about asking permission or asking forgiveness? To me it is just a matter of education or style, if you prefer."

Bad old days

Tobia: "Now look what I found! A photo from back when I was just a wee little thing."

Peggy: "Here we go again."

Tobia: "Oh, it was a beautiful time..."

Peggy: "You don't have to say it, I know 'Just you and your master'. Could we please talk about something else?"

Tobia: "I was completely different back then - all energy, not a moments rest."

Peggy: "To me you look much the same on that photo - doing nothing! But it seems like you didn't hear me: COULD WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?"

Tobia: "I got carried away. But why don't you want to talk about these things?"

Peggy: "I've told you before that my memories of the good old days are mostly bad, so please could we move on?"

Tobia: "Sorry, I had forgotten about the beating up, being tied up, left in the shower box..."

Peggy: "STOP IT!"

We've moved!

New blog

Solitary

Peggy: "I know, I know, you don't need to repeat my words but this is not fair. Being left alone all weekend with them dropping by only now and then!"

Tobia: "But you keep telling me that life is not fair."

Peggy: "I said YOU DON'T NEED TO REPEAT MY WORDS. Here we can talk fairness, I mean, we are not talking about an extra dog treat."

Tobia: "It was certainly a long weekend, you are right about that."

Peggy: "See! and for example when they finally came by yesterday afternoon, how long did it take you to pee?"

Tobia: "I didn't really time it...."

Peggy: "Neither did I but that women who was here, the one that talks a lot, you know - she timed you: 27 seconds!"

Tobia. "Really?"

Peggy: "Yes, really! And still they have the nerve to get angry with us for seeking a little comfort on our own."

Tobia: "Well... breaking through an iron fence just to sleep on the sofa is somehow going to extremes, I would say."

Peggy: "What can a dog do? Probably the tall one is going to install a dog proof gate soon. Ha! Dog proof but let's see if it will be Peggy-proof!"

Pecking order

Tobia: "Another raid for the sofa?"

Peggy: "..."

Tobia: "I've noticed that you usually do it when I am sleeping in the bigger basket."

Peggy: "..."

Tobia: "Are we talking balance of power here?"

Peggy: "..."

Tobia: "There isn't that much difference between them anyway? At least not enough to merit a scolding from the tall one for going on the couch."

Peggy: "Then why don't you sleep in the smaller basket then?"

Moved

Peggy and Tobia have moved!

Junk

Peggy: "Well, they got around to buying us food. Did you taste it?"

Tobia: "Yes, indeed. I like it!"

Peggy: "I knew you would, it's junk food!"

Tobia: "And so what? As long as we exercise as much as we do, a bit of junk food will not hurt us. How do you know it is junk food anyway?"

Peggy: "Because you like it, yesterday you almost ate too much of it! And because of the taste - there is something in it, like when you smell a strange scent on people who come here. Something they put on themselves. It's probably not good for you."

Tobia: "Never mind, I like it."

Relationships

Peggy: "By the way - why do you keep calling him your master?"

Tobia: "Because he is my master! When we first met, there was this mutual attraction and you might go as far as calling us friends but that is really not my style. I'm more for the classic 'A master and his dog'. "

Peggy: "I don't need a master, I just need someone to take care of the practical things, like buying food, taking us for walks etc."

Tobia: "Yes, you are very independent and tough, I am not questioning that. But there are some things that makes me believe that you do appreciate relationships. For example when that singing lady arrives you do show some kind of emotional attachment."

Peggy: "But that is different. I don't call her my master."

Tobia: "A matter of words, I'd say."

Caught again

Peggy: "Hm, did we get caught again? And you keep asking me why I do things, I'm not supposed to do."

Tobia: "You cannot really compare those acts! I was doing what every dog would tell you is very normal, it is our instinct and I was not trying to hide anything."

Peggy: "You are certainly right about that: you are not able to hide anything. And as for the normality, I guess I could find a lot of dogs that could tell you that what I am scolded for is perfectly normal too."

Tobia: "I would say that digging holes in the ground is a habit that goes back to before life with man."

Peggy: "And checking for things to eat is not?"

Tobia: "I know what you are thinking and you are wrong."

Peggy: "Oh - listen to this: mr non aggressive... are we discussing or are we arguing now?"

Tobia: "I mean... never mind. I did what I did and I had a talk with the tall one about it afterwards."

More posts on my home page... oups - our home page :-)

Traps

Peggy: "Why do they leave the doors open? They know very well that we are bound to do the things, we're not allowed to do. According to me, they are setting up traps so that they can scold us. Luckily we didn't get sick this time."

Tobia: "No, I think that it was just forgetfulness. My master would never test me in that way. As for the tall one, I don't know. He might do it to prevent a shift in the balances."

Peggy: "What are you talking about. There are no news about the pecking order - you are still the bottom dog!"

Tobia: "Are you so sure? There is more in it than that as far as I see it. We are not talking one-tier management system here."

Herding

Peggy: "Quite a lot of people coming and going these days, I like that!"

Tobia: "I've noticed. It seems to me that you want to be center of attention. I mean, people don't come to see you, they come to see my master."

Peggy: "It is not my fault that they like me, I'm really not trying to invade, I just want to make friends, let them know that I'm here. If they send me away, I respect that...."

Tobia: "First you bark a lot, then you jump on people and then you start licking them all over. A bit of manners could be asked for."

Peggy: "Says who? Well, we can't all be sulking in a corner or just talking with one of the guests, now that would be unsociable. I'm just trying to include everybody, get them into the flock so to speak."

Tobia: "Yes, and they better get there fast or you will treat them like stray sheep."

Cruelty to children

Peggy: "What was wrong with your master last night? he looked like something the cat dragged in! I could tell that they had been with the peaceful woman from the smell of it and they had been eating, so...?"

Tobia: "I saw it too - and I heard about them talking about people who abandon or treat their children badly in some place far from here where your woman friend goes."

Peggy: "What's new in that? people have always done that. Well, some people at least. What can we do about it?"

read the rest on: Peggy and Tobia - the new blog

English

Tobia: "I know you are not going to like this Peggy...."

Peggy: "Ci sono tante cose che non mi piacciono! Cosa c'è questa volta?"

Tobia: "I am afraid you will have to repeat what you just said - in English."

Peggy: "COSA?"

Tobia: "Yes, it seems like from now ...




Read the rest on the new blog of Peggy and Tobia

Mamma

Tobia: "My mamma has arrived - yes I know, "Mamma" is not English but she is Italian and I always called her that when I was small."

Peggy: "Si, molto brava come mamma direi - ti ha buttato fuori dopo 2 settimane. Lo capisco, sai, non ho neanche voglia di pensare ai casini che hai fatto."

Tobia: "First: She didn't throw me out, she reached an agreement with my master. Second: I don't think that I created any more messes than your average dog. And third: we are still on very good terms."

Peggy: "Va beh - ma aspetta: Di solito lei arriva quando vanno via loro...!"

Tobia: "Do you mean days of biscuits and sofas?"

Peggy: "Troppo presto dire... c'è qualcosa che non torna."

Tobia: "Well, let us see who goes away, perhaps it will be the tall one?"

Pouncing

Tobia: "Peggy, please! Why do you have to show that you are in charge wherever we go? I'm not a sheep, you know."

Peggy: "A volte me lo chiedo a dire la verità."

Tobia: "Really, it is rather annoying, you know."

Peggy: "Ma scusa, io sono più attento di te a tantissimi cose, quindi per forza devo starti dietro. Se no, cosa succede? tu puoi farti male o scappare o non so cosa ...."

Tobia: "But I'm not a puppy anymore."

Peggy: "Allora perchè di comporti di cucciolo?"

Tobia: "THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

Peggy: "Mamma mia, ora ti stai anche scaldando. Vai a riposarti, sei stanco."

Tobia: "Let me put this in Italian - I have learned a few words, you know: IO FACCIO CHE CACCHIO VOGLIO!"

Peggy: "Va beh, fai come vuoi, io non posso sempre salvarti il culo."

Tobia: "Non hai capito un ca..o!"

READ MORE ON http://wp.me/s1N6Gp-mothers

Moving

Please follow us on http://www.hvempukler.com