Yesterday was a day full of firsts for Mississippi. It was her first full day with little kids, it was her first dinner party and it was her first time spending several hours in someone else’s house. She was amazing, I am flabbergasted. We were really nervous about bringing her to Thanksgiving. We thought there was no way she was going to be able to contain her lust for food. We were worried about the kids (3 years, 5 years, and 6 months) and that she’d play too rough with them. We were worried she would gobble up all the toys laying around in the house. We were afraid she’d relieve herself inside the house. Tom even brought Fabreeze just in case she had an accident.
None of these things happened. She was perfectly behaved all day. She took a pencil that Lauren (the five year old) threw for her to “fetch” but she gave it up easily. She tried to steal a wine cork but so what, they aren’t bad for her and there were plenty. Of all the things to steal, it was the least harmful to her or anyone else. I had to wrestle her for it but she gave up pretty easily. The entire dinner she sat quietly next to Tom, who was sneaking her green beans and turkey every once in a while. She even laid down next to him for a while. She was silent and patient through out the whole dinner.
Possible the most amazing thing about yesterday was how she behaved around the kids. They constantly had cookies or rolls in their hands. Mississippi followed them around but never once tried to take food out of their hands. She never once jumped on them and I heard no reports of toothy behavior all day. I think the cutest moments were when Lauren would run back and forth through the house and Mississippi would chase her. She just trotted behind her and followed her every move. So cute! She was great around the baby who spent a good part of the day on the floor in his little bouncy seat. When I held the baby, she’d just come up and give a gentle sniff. Liam, the three year old chased her around with a colander and was very affectionate with her, Mississippi was very gentle all day with him.
No accidents in the house either. I took her out for a little pee break before dinner but she waited until we got home to do her pooping in the backyard. Hallelujah!
All throughout cooking and dinner, I only saw her help herself once. There was some mashed potato smeared on the counter, right on the edge. She got up on her hind legs and tried to lick it. We caught her in the act, told her no, and then wiped it off and ‘officially’ presented it to her. I’m amazed at all the chances for food that this was the only instance. She was just very interested in any cooking going on. But she sat patiently and watched intently. I think all our practice of trying not to let her have stuff unless we offer it to her has really paid off. Not to say that she’s not an opportunist, anything that drops on the floor is free game to her, but she counter surfs less than when we first got her. She’s knows we’ll give her some anyway.
Did I mention there were 3 other dogs in the house? She was very nice with all the dogs, even Tonka, who’s a dirty old man and who spent a good couple hours panting heavily and trying to go to town on her lady parts. She gave him a few firm warnings but there were no fights. She played with the dogs but during dinner she was more interested in watching Tom eat. After dinner she was more interested in watching Ryan carve the rest of the turkey. We brought her a kong, hoping it would keep her occupied during dinner. She munched on it for a while but gave it up to the other dogs in favor of watching Tom eat. When we left last night, her kong was still half full and she got a nice treat in the car on the way home.
Mississippi, you are so amazing. Thank you for being the best dog in the whole wide world. Happy Thanksgiving beautiful girl.