Countersurfing

Update Sept 12, 2014:
Sad to report that Zeus has crossed the rainbow bridge to the big Kitchen Counter in the Sky.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-tallest-dog-dies-age-005028083.html

RIP, Zeus

Admit it, if your dog is big enough, he or she countersurfs. It’s in the dog code of ethics – Go Where Food Is. And kitchen counters are always a good bet. Some better-trained dogs are discreet about it, waiting until you leave the house. But the evidence on the floor is irrefutable – the empty donut box, the licked-clean take out container with teeth marks, and on unfortunate occasions, broken glass.

Bob? Not so discreet. He basically shoves me out of the way while I’m cooking. So I push the food further away from the edge of the counter and shove back. Eventually we reach a truce – which means I put some morsel in his food dish. Despite being an indulgent dog owner, this is the one area I do not budge – no people food fed by hand. Ever. OK, unless I’m training him and using carrots as a reward. (Man, he loves carrots!)

Thing is, Bob was not blessed with the physical attributes that would typically position him as a champion countersurfer. Not like Zeus, the world’s tallest dog from my proud home state of Michigan.

  This guy OWNS the counter. Not a surprise there’s not much on it.

And then there’s Bob who, fully extended, can barely rest his chin on the counter’s edge. And yet, his countersurfing skills are prodigious. If Zeus is the Manute Bol of countersurfing, Bob is Spud Webb. Because he makes use of what he DOES have. Big paws to get a solid grip. Tank-like build to push himself into the best leveraging point (usually by pushing me out of it). And last but not least, a preternaturally long, giraffe-like tongue. He tips his head to the side to maximize his reach and laps toward his target until he finally makes contact and lures it in.

It would be funny if I hadn’t lost so many dinners before I realized that, despite his small stature, nothing within 10 inches of the edge is safe.

Gotta admit, I admire his resourcefulness.

Be Like Bob Lesson: Don’t assume someone’s not good at something just because they don’t appear to be cut out for it.

Be Like Bob Corollary: Use what ya got.

Good Lesson. Thanks Bob.