Keeper's Christmas List

Ali's posted a Christmas list on his blog and it was mentioned that Keeper needed a Christmas list. Since I have very little blog fodder of late. I thought I might take this time to discuss his hobbies and what Keeper would like to get for Christmas (or any other day for that matter).

Keeper is a wonderful dog and has 6 things that he loves to do. Actually I really think this is all he does. So in the order of what I think his preferences are here are Keeper's hobbies:

1. Eat - I have never seen him turn down food (Whoops, he did once when he was sick but that was for 1/2 day). He will taste treats and deem them to be too healthy/not close enough to meat to be worth eating. However, no matter how tired, sore or other feeling he doesn't like to miss a meal.
2. Sleep - He may be more active than other greyhounds but that isn't saying much. Keeper doesn't like his sleep disturbed (unless it is for food).
3. Going for walks: He has been known (rarely but has happened) to give up walks in favour of sleeping or to chew on bone. I do think though one of the the favourite things about walks is the fact that he gets a treat at the end.
4. Getting pets - Keeper does not display his love of this (Keeper rarely wags his tail) and in the beginning it was difficult to tell if he actually liked getting pets. He especially wasn't sure about belly rubs, but now when you stop he gives you a look that can only be interpretated to mean "I didn't tell you to stop so start petting me again".
5. Running - I think a lot of people thought this was going to be his number one activity. However many times we have gone outside to play and he has not been interested in wanting to run. However if another grey is running he will generally join in (unless he is sleeping or getting tummy rubs)
6. Playing with stuffed animals- This involves running 1/2 the time and he is particular about what stuffies he will play with.
   

So this brings us back to his Christmas list

1. Smoked trout, sardines or any other fish. Fish is his favourite meat, despite the fact that he can't run after them. (although he did like to swim...)
2. Turkey necks - this is really a gift but leftovers - what else do you do with those giblets. They have the added bonus of cleaning his teeth. His teeth do get brushed, but that is tolerated since he gets a treat afterwards.
3. Any treat that contains a significant amount of meat (I will request low chicken content and no rawhides as they upset his tummy although he loves them anyway) I could really make an entire list of just his favourite treats but I think we have covered his number one pastime sufficiently.
   
4. A nice soft fluffy bed for outside. The ground is hard - so quite often in the summer I would be outside in the garden and he would be inside sleeping on a comfy bed. He is not stupid. Keeper has a couple of beds inside but this is never enough for a greyhound.
   
5. Some more blankets to sleep under - or to fluff up if the bed isn't quite soft enough. He does like used blankets.
   
6. A new stuffed animal, it has to talk not squeak. Keeper is very particular and doesn't play with any of the toys that squeak - only the ones that make other sounds "I'm Tessa Owl Hoo Hoo Hoo" or "Ribbit Ribbit". He wears the sounds out on these toys. The frog that he has that squeaks he won't even pick it up.