Echo is a cleptomaniac...

[LoveEcho]

So, I live in a very rural area, and my neighbor and I essentially split a large chunk of land that's fenced in. Our dogs like to play, so (while we're outside) they'll occasionally end up on our side of the tree line, or Echo will be over there-- with full encouragement and support from our neighbor. Echo's recall is rock solid, and I never leave him out alone (I can see the neighbor's yard, and him in it, from our deck), so I never really thought anything of it. I was chatting with my neighbor this morning, and he starts talking about how it's the weirdest thing, he keeps buying his dogs tennis balls and they keep disappearing. He's looked everywhere for them, but he's lost like 20 tennis balls in the last month. We part ways, and I'm doing some work in my garden, and I see a weird green thing under the rhododendron Echo likes to lay in... and lo and behold there are 20+ tennis balls under there. I've never bought him a tennis ball, because he has no interest in anything other than eating the fuzz off of them. I thought this was hilarious...I think I'm going to put them all in a basket with a sorry note and leave it on their deck. This guy is quite a character, so I can just picture him puzzling over where all the freakin' tennis balls keep going....
Anyways, this just cracked me up I'm picturing him going on covert missions to steal tennis balls...

(And as a side note-- I don't worry about resource guarding... you can take anything away from him, dog or person, and he could care less, and he's never displayed any jealousy..although if this is a sign of something else, I'd like to know)

[qbchottu]

ahahahaha fantastic! Sneaky little guy!

My girl Wiva steals my shoes and hides them in her crate. She never chews them up or does anything bad. She just takes them and stock piles.

[mwiacek10]

That is too funny.

[Holmeshx2]

LMAO too funny. Im no expert however don't think it's anything to worry about if the humans are fine with it. Of course if I see you guys on the next episode of Hoarders I wouldn't be shocked hahahaha.

[Rua]

Originally Posted by LoveEcho

I think I'm going to put them all in a basket with a sorry note and leave it on their deck.

You should SO do that. I'd love to see your neighbours reaction to that. LOL

[ZAYDA]

My girl does the same thing so if you can fix it let me know. lol I just keep returning the toys or balls.

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

Maybe Echo just wants things neat. Like my parents and now I say " if I gotta pick em up their mine'. Problem is Echo probably isnt telling the neighbors his expectations!I wish he could pick up Lucky's tennis and other balls it would really help when I'm mowing the yard.

[GSDBESTK9]

That is too funny!

[qbchottu]

Originally Posted by Holmeshx2

Of course if I see you guys on the next episode of Hoarders I wouldn't be shocked hahahaha.

LOL! Time to get Ceser Milan to do an intervention. "Echo...we have all gathered here today to speak to you about how your hoarding is negatively impacting your life..."

[LoveEcho]

The official count is 23 tennis balls (left in a pile on the neighbor's lawn...can't wait to see that one), 2 kongs (that I thought had disappeared into the woods), his black leash, and a shoe. I have no idea where the shoe came from. He's looking at me like, "what...I didn't do it...." The rhododendron is the size of our garage almost, and he likes to sleep in there...I think he was decorating his "house"

If anyone's ever seen the show "King of the Hill", my neighbor is like the character Boomhauer... including saying things like "dag nabit" and "them dang tennis balls"...

And the dog just showed up on the deck with one more.