Talking to dogs. . .

Tonight, Elias (my nephew by choice) and I were chatting about our favorite parts of the delightful movie "Clue". I've visited at their lovely home, and slept upstairs in their tiny attic room. To get there, you have to climb some incredibly steep and somewhat narrow stairs, and there are no handrails. A wee scary for an aging, short legged auntie with an old back/leg injury, but I managed (until I begged to be sleep downstairs the last night! Thanks, kids!).

When I first opened the door and looked up those stairs, immediately I saw the scene from "Clue" where the French maid and the Federal agent are sent to search the attic. Neither one wants to go up the dark, scary staircase first, so they end up struggling up the narrow steps side by side, their butts bumping together and their shoulders pressed against the walls. So, that was how I climbed them; suitcase in one hand, the other shoulder pressed firmly into the wall. Dubbing them the "Clue Stairs", I joked about wearing a groove in the wall with my shoulder.

And what, you may be wondering, does this have to do with talking to dogs?

I shared with Elias that one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie is when the butler is dealing with the dogs, just as one of the male guests arrives. Butler shouts at the dogs, "SIT!" and the guest immediately plops down on a bench by the front door. The butler apologizes.

I then realized that I had done much the same thing to a recent visitor at my house. Now, most of you who know me and my Sweet Duet know that I talk to them like people. Full sentences, most of the time. So Dulcie was running to joyously greet Visitor, and I said, "Be CAREFUL! Keep your feet on the floor!" Then I wondered why Visitor was standing so very still. (At 25 pounds and resembling a sweet miniature golden retriever, Dulcie doesn't generally scare people.) Sheepishly, Vistor confessed, "I thought you were talking to me!" Apologies were made, and laughter was shared. Dulcie even got an ear rub out of the deal.

I told Elias I was glad I didn't use our usual "stay off the guests!" command, which is "All four on the floor!". I might have turned around to find my poor guest crouching on the couch, or worse yet, fleeing this house of madness.

So, if you love your dogs--and your visitors--at least learn to preface a command with a name. It'll save everyone a lot of confusion!