Pavlov was right…
…when he talked about “conditional reflexes — i.e., reflex responses, like salivation, that only occurred conditionally upon specific previous experiences of the animal.” Take Bosco, for example.He’s a nice enough dog, 40 pounds of unreasonable happiness. He behaves perfectly normally until I put on shoes AND make-up. That could only mean one thing: I’m leaving the house, and maybe I’m taking him with me! So he begins to rodeo (buck like a crazed bull) either next to the treat pantry or by the door, depending on, I suppose, what he thinks his chances are of getting to ride along. He knows that if I’m taking him, he’ll get to ride in the car, and if I’m not, he’ll get a treat. Suffice it to say he’s always eager to get me out the door….
So this week, the first box of my new book arrived, Quilt-O-Grams, and that means several trips to the post office to send out the first few copies while I figure out what the postage should be and fill a couple orders from my website, www.cherylrosecreations.com. After only one day of standing by the cutting board putting books in big white envelopes, when the next day brought about the same activity, he went completely nuts, just sure he was going to get to ride to the post office and bark at people while I ran inside again. Evidently I need to be careful with those envelopes….
Anyway, now I’m getting ready to leave for Fall Market in Houston. I’m trying out the idea of packing my bags in a different room so he will be okay with the whole affair. Rumor has it that while I’m gone, he either mopes at the top of the stairs or sits looking out the window until I return. He’s wishing Pavlov was wrong so that he could take his nap in ignorant bliss. Does your dog have YOU figured out?
About the Author: Cheryl Malkowski
I have a perfect life--designing quilts, writing books and letting the dog in and out of my home studio in southern Oregon. I'm addicted to color and will go out of my way to avoid hand work.
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