No, Nigel is not being punished. Being in the basement is a good thing. In the nearly eight years that Nigel has lived with us, he has adamantly refused to go down the stairs. So, when we watch TV, Nigel sits looking forlornly down from his perch at the top of the stairs. Yesterday, however, Nigel was in the basement. He entered the basement three times! He didn't actually go down the stairs but, entered through the outside door. Mx came up with a brilliant idea -- he took Nigel into the backyard, and opened the basement door from the outside and invited Nigel in -- AND, HE WENT! Nigel was so excited to be on the carpet. He ran around, wagged his tail, even barked at us with his "I'm thrilled to be here" voice. And then, he sprinted up the stairs back to the kitchen, and looked down from his usual spot. Max took Nigel outside twice more; and, each time Nigel walked straight into the basement through the outside door. He enthusiastically repeated his "I like it here" wiggle and then quickly headed right back up the stairs. Later that night Max was watching the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays. He invited Nigel to come join him in the basement. Nigel, as usual, politely refused.
I have known many Labs who won't do stairs, either up or down. Are they just weird like that? My chihuahua, who could understanding avoid them since they tend to be as tall as he is, just bounds right up and down without a care in the world....often with one of my slippers in his mouth. I keep telling him that he's going to break his neck. But does he listen? Indeed, he does not. See you soon....megan
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