In our last episode, Lewis declared without compromise that he was NOT getting in the car for any reason – not no way, not no how, as the cowardly lion uttered in “The Wizard of Oz.”  These four-legged boys and girls are smart.  I know everyone thinks their dog is the smartest, but it’s just not so.  Sadly, some dogs are destined for the short leash for the duration.

Lewis isn’t one of those dogs.  He’s not an Einstein breed like the German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd, but he’s close, very close.  After enough visits to the vet, I’m sure most dogs can tell when a visit to the dog doc is pending.  Lewis goes a step further, however.

Getting Lewis back from the vet is a different and more enjoyable story. He jumps and bumps and is overjoyed at the prospect of going home.  And there is always the wow factor – those owners with the little rat dogs suddenly step aside and clear the way for the great white.

But then it starts.  Those human traits start to make themselves known.  Lewis exits the building and walks, nay, almost drags you to the car.  It’s funny at first until it starts to sink in, especially the part where he bounds up the ramp and into the car with no coaxing or coercing whatsoever.  It’s like watching Air Bud launch himself into the back of the car.  The kicker, however, is that once he’s in the car and assured that he is returning to home turf, he shuns us.  SHUNS!  If you aren’t familiar with this old concept, it involves physically turning away from the person you are facing in order to express indignation over some action.  Yep, that’s exactly what Lewis did.  Got pictures to prove it.

At first, I thought he just preferred looking out the back window, but other non-vet trips disproved that theory.  He won’t look or sit toward the front of the car – not no way, not no how!  That is until arrival at home means a guaranteed dog cookie.  Then it’s all is forgiven, let’s play!

They follow us around.  They sit in our laps (not Lewis, thank goodness).  They want to be around us, even when we’ve had a bad day.  But they don’t like being away from us (or dog cookies!).  So, I guess a little pouting can be forgiven.

I guess that’s Lewis’ way of saying, “Don’t let this be a habit….not no way, not no how!”