esrosedotblog

BED STEAD

The biggest excitement around here is Franklin's new bed.

His is red. Dogs can't see the color red so it isn't the best choice for him but it matches the carpet nearby.

Franklin is not at his best when dealing with change unless it is something he precipitates. But usually, if you get the excitement machine going, he kicks into the game and does his best to please us by, at least, pretending he likes whatever it is we have in store for him.

The bed box came the other day and I put it in the center of the kitchen floor. That got his attention. He likes boxes because they often have those plastic pillows inside and you can bite and play with those.

He got energized.

Then we all got together and opened the box. John and I "ooohing and ahhhing" the whole time. Sounds crazy, I know, but it works. John and I get very excited. Franklin? Perhaps.

And out comes the new bed.

"Surprise"!

"Happy birthday"! (it's his 6th birthday on December 14th). "Merry Christmas"! (what does he know and besides we don't know the real day either).

He got into it. He pawed the pillow. Got in the "play" position, pounced on the bed and bit at it. Pulled it around the kitchen. Always a good sign. A friend. A toy.

We went into the bedroom and exchanged the old smelly bed with holes in it for the new one.

OK! All right!

John quietly took the old bed back into the kitchen to stuff into the box. Franklin and I inspected the new one. He started licking it. Scent. Taste. All that. A dog thing. When he licks fabric it just freaks me out. I can't even watch. But for Franklin, this is as good a sign as the biting and dragging.

Finally, he got into it.

Now this bed is like the other two beds he has had (two years seems the bed life around here--three or four washes) but it much 'bouncier'. They have put a lot of fill into it. It doesn't even sit flat on the floor because there is so much fill in it.

For a few hours, this caused problems. Think about climbing into your bed and having it tip or bounce back at you. He took it gradually. The first night slept on the side, sort of. Then early yesterday, he found the bolster part and leaned his head on it. Slept soundly.

Later, during the movie I looked over and he was belly up. Bliss.

Later still, he was seen doing the dog-nest-making thing with all four feet. It doesn't make much difference in the bed but I guess that it gives a feeling of control.

He is pretty much set with the bed now. Last night, when I walked by, he had his ass up on the bolster part and his head down lower on the bed. This is the preferred Franklin sleeping position. Finally. Comfort. Home. Peace. Rest.

Labels: Franklin