one of the many reasons why I keep him around

Josh sometimes has to leave before I get up in the morning, and once in a while, he'll leave me a small early breakfast on my nightstand. Sometimes a bowl of dry cereal, sometimes toast with butter on it, sometimes just a coffee. It is a nice little surprise to wake up to a pre-shower meal!

This morning, he got up at 6am and was out the door shortly thereafter. I woke up to find toast with honey on it, resting by the clock radio. I found it before the alarm went off, because I had dogs climbing on my face to get a sniff at the plate sitting so close to the bed. Food in bed is a novelty to them, since we rarely eat upstairs.

I continued lounging in bed while I savored my toast, and the dogs sat two inches to my side, Murray staring intently at the toast as it went from plate to mouth, plate to mouth, Tango glaring at me with one paw up in the air, as he shook in silent protest.

I finished everything but a sliver of crust, and in an act of mercy, broke off two tiny pieces and shared them with each of the pups. I got up to take a shower, but knowing better than to trust them alone with the plate and crust while I was in the shower, I put them on the floor while I got ready for work.

The dogs were waiting in the hallway while I took a shower and brushed teeth and hair, and when I went into the bedroom to get dressed, they both stood at the edge of the bed and looked at me to lift them up. As I lifted Murray onto the covers, he jetted over to my side of the bed, grabbed hold of the crust, and took off to the other end of the bed while I stood there in stunned silence. It was faster than I'd ever seen him move! And Tango was standing there looking as if he was thoroughly impressed with his brother's work.

My yells got him to drop the toast, and as "punishment," he was put onto the floor to wait during the rest of the morning. He lay on his bed, resting his head on his paws and looking up at me with pitiful eyes. I'd long since moved the plate, and I finally gave in and put him back up on the bed with his brother to enjoy their last morning stretches on the down comforter before I left them for the day.

Would you believe that he made the SAME beeline for the nightstand again? Same speed, same spot! I guess some pups never learn. Or perhaps he did, and that one savor of sweet honey on toast outweighed my wrath.