Find the bunny...

We have had a few days of rain in Nova Scotia.  And we all KNOW how much Frodo and I like rain.  We plod along miserably with our heads held low – walking slower than a drunken slug.   And we obviously have NO desire to go OUTSIDE and retrieve in the rain. So our exercise routine has been completely thrown off – but of course, that doesn’t mean that we don’t STILL have energy.

So the other night, when our human could no longer bear our continual sad staring and arm nudging, she decided we should play an indoor game called “Find the Bunny.”  It is a FABULOUS game – which uses our brains – and we also get to burn off some energy.  The rules are simple.  We have this great stuffed bunny – which our human hides.  We then take turns “finding the bunny.”  Simple – right?  Nothing is simple in our house…

The first challenge is in sequestering two of us while the other dog plays.  Because let’s face it – I don’t willingly believe in taking turns.  So our human brings out the dreaded baby gate and corrals two of us into a room while the third dog plays.  The other night, she SOMEHOW tricked Frodo and I – so we were corralled first – and Paxton got to play first.

I must say, I was totally impressed with Paxton’s ability to play the other night.  Our human would tell him to sit and stay, while she would hide the bunny somewhere in another room.  Not only did he STAY, but he waited until he heard the magic words “Find the bunny.”  Of course when he hears those words, area carpets go flying and the table lamps shake.  But he consistently found the bunny AND brought the bunny back each time – to be traded for a treat.  He was a find-the-bunny-superstar.

Now our human had to corral Pax with one of us so we could take our turn.  THAT was no small fete.  Anyway, after much pulling and tugging on her part, she managed to get Frodo out of the holding area – and Paxton and I got to watch.

The problem with playing Find the Bunny AFTER Paxton has played, is that the bunny is now pretty soggy.  Honestly, that’s why we like HIM to play last.  Oh well. 

Frodo is a show off when it comes to this game.   Our human can hide the bunny in pretty obscure places, and he will keep trying to find it.  If he gets really stumped – he looks to our human – who can either give him “hot” and “cold” clues by saying
“yes” if he is going the right way or “no” if he is going the wrong direction.  She can also point – and he will go where she points.  Of course, he found the bunny EVERY time – and got lots of treats.

Now it was MY turn.  I was sooooooooo excited I could barely contain myself.  The first time my human told me to “stay” while she hid the bunny, well…I didn’t bother staying.  I mean, I might as well see where it is to save time – right?  No.  It’s not in the “rules.”  So back I went – and this time I stayed.  When I heard the magic words – I FLEW.  I mean my feet hardly touched the ground.  And I disappeared into the room where the bunny was hidden.  I should add at this point, that when each of us go to find the bunny on our FIRST try, our human has put it in some pretty obvious place  - so we will be successful.  So off I go.  And my human waits.  And waits.  And waits.  OK.  Something is wrong.  She goes into the room – and there I am – trying to rip the ears off the bunny. “NO!!!!!!” she shouts.  And takes my prey from me.  “THAT is NOT in the rules”.  Bloody rules.

So we try it again.  This time I got the bunny and ran back to my human.  And ran right past her.  Who cares about a treat?  I just want the BUNNY.  After much cajoling, I finally DID trade the bunny.  I had a few more turns,  and I DID get better at the game.  Although one time I couldn’t find the bunny so I just came back and searched around the starting point.  Frodo just rolled his eyes at me…

At the end of the game we were all tired and panting.  A good round of “Find the bunny” is a great game for a rainy day.  Now if I could just figure out where my human hid that bunny, so I could play a few rounds all by myself….

©  2014 Linda Wozniak