krueger@uiuccsb.UUCP (12/03/83)
#R:wuphys:-11000:uiuccsb:16500003:000:1478 uiuccsb!krueger Dec 2 17:48:00 1983 My wife and I own a Shetland Sheepdog who, of course, thinks he's human (he doesn't get out much to visit with other dogs). He "protects" us by barking furiously whenever friend or foe knocks at the door while we are in the apartment. This can be a problem if its a delivery person of some kind because they are usually a little gun-shy (e.g. mail carriers). I have adopted the practice of putting him in a back room when I am expecting someone to come knocking at the door, but the little fart is so smart that whenever I try to coax him into the room (even in very subtle ways), he scampers off to hide under the kitchen table. He is extremely proficient at eluding capture while positioned there. He also manages to put on such a worrisome expression that it is impossible to complete the caper without feeling guilty. Up until recently, our little sheltie was regularly left alone for several (4-9) hours at a time. We used to leave him loose to roam around inside the apartment to find and play with his toys, which were inevitably scattered throughout. This policy was abruptly ended after Leophyllus decided to chew on some photographic negatives left out on top of a table. Since then, we attach him to a long chain anchored near his food and water. We try to remember to gather his toys to within his reach, but he seems to sleep most of the time while we're gone. And he seldom eats while he is alone. Jonathan W. Krueger ...ihnp4!uiucdcs!krueger