Libby, Sit.

It’s the one thing she can do well, and she could do it before she ever came to us. Libby can sit. She will sit when she is told to sit (staying is another matter) and she will sit on her own anytime she wants something. The things she has sat for have caused us all to shake our heads.

My favorite “sit” was over a year ago, when Tickles the cat was still with us (he disappeared last January). Libby hadn’t been with us long, I don’t think. Anyway, I was coming in the back door, Tickles riding on my shoulders as was his habit. Libby was extremely interested in the cat, who really could not have cared less. Libby was intently watching the cat and I believe she had an “aha” moment. She sat! One second she was jumping around trying to examine the cat, and the next she was sitting beautifully. I started laughing, and told her she was good dog for trying that, but the cat was not something she could sit for.

For the kids, particularly Katherine, their favorite story started as a sit story and ended as a bark story. Kyle was eating onion rings. Libby, obviously interested because it was food, sat. Kyle, not really thinking she would eat it, tossed one to her. The only problem was, it was too hot for her to pick up. She would try, and she would drop it and she would bark at it. Then she would repeat the process, which started the kids laughing so hard, they were practically crying. Finally, it did cool off and she did eat it. Then she wanted more. Unfortunately, the vet tells me onions are not good for dogs, so we can’t let her have anymore.

Sometimes, she will get tired of sitting, and will lay her head close to wherever the food is, like on the couch next to you, on your legs, or my personal favorite (not) on the table. However, the moment it looks like she might be getting something, she will go back to sit.


This morning, as is our habit on Saturday and Sunday when Ed gets off work from the Waffle House, we stop and the Casey’s in Buckner and get donuts. We get two each for ourselves and the kids, knowing we will be sharing them with Libby. She will sit between us watching to see which one of us is most likely give her a bite. When one is finished, she will turn her full attention to the other. We tried getting her own, but she just inhaled it and went back to sitting for ours.

Usually when she sees there isn’t any more, she will go lie down or do something else. I don’t know what was in her head this morning, but when we finished, she practically climbed up in Ed’s lap, sniffing as she went, as if she was thinking he had more stashed somewhere. He played with her for a few minutes (which may have been what she really wanted) and she went on her way.

She is outside right now, but it’s still cold, so she’ll probably be wanting in soon.

Connie