A Tale Of Two Ducks

We have the best dog in the world.  I know everyone probably thinks that (although my family went through a four year period of knowing we had the worst dog in the world - poor Buddy).  But we really do have the best dog in the world.  He is obedient, patient, very sweet with Sara, and has somehow always known that he could play much rougher with John than with me.  He has also always known the difference between his stuff and our stuff (except for a few minor puppy incidents).  He does not mess with our stuff, including food that might be sitting right under his nose on the floor.  He doesn't touch it!

But alas, baby toys just look so similar to dog toys. Somehow he still knows they're not his, but it tortures him so! Every time a new toy gets introduced to Sara, Bear has a fleeting moment of hope that we're simply informing her that we've got a new toy for the dog.  He watches the new toy intently and may even venture to put his front teeth around it gently until we inevitably say "No Bear, that's Sara's." He does a good job of leaving it alone after that.

However, after saving several miniature rubber ducks from the woods at my parents' home over Christmas, the introduction of a rubber duck to Sara's toy collection was too much for the dear ol' boy to handle.  We let Bear take home the first rubber duck he rescued and that of course has been his favorite toy for the last few weeks (evidenced by the missing duck head).  So when I decided to get out Sara's rubber duck, it was just too confusing.  We caught him licking it a few times, and when we put it up on a shelf in the living room, Bear sat staring up at the duck, whining softly.

You know he just wants to grab that duck and run!

John then thought that putting the duck in Sara's crib might drive home the message that the duck belongs to her.  But when I put Sara down to for a nap and moved the duck to a new, out-of-sight location, Bear secretly pushed open her bedroom door and sniffed the perimeter of the crib while she slept.

It is funny and heartbreaking to me at the same time.  After all, he does try to share his toys with Sara.  But that's not a two-way street, at least until Sara's old enough to decide on her own to share with him.  It will be so much fun though to watch them become good friends.  Until then, poor Bear will just have to show some restraint.  I wonder how long it will be before we come home to a second beheaded duck...

One of Bear's other exciting finds over Christmas!