Ray the Blind Dog

So, how does a blind dog know which are his Christmas presents?

Today while Gregg was at work, I decided to take the Christmas presents downstairs to the dining room and do some wrapping on the dining room table. I grabbed some bags out of my closet and headed down the stairs trailed by my hound dog. Ray immediately started grabbing for one of the bags trying to rip it out of my hands. I shooed him off, deposited my load on the table and went off in search of accoutrements. Ray remained behind in the dining room (should've tipped me off). By the time I returned Ray had one of the bags on the floor and was rummaging around in it. I grabbed the bag from him but not before he had extracted a bone-shaped rubber toy. He took off down the hall towards his favorite keepaway route around the coffee table in the living room. We had a lively game for a few minutes before I was able to retrieve his now-slobbery present. I wrapped presents while Ray circled the table, every few minutes putting his front legs on the table and trying to relocate the bag with his gift, and every time getting a stern "Bah" for his trouble (at least the reprimand is finally seasonable).He's After the Bag of Squeaky Tennis Balls

I finished wrapping all the presents (except for the slobbery bone - it needed to air dry) then headed out to the mail stash to open one of the boxes that had arrived from my sister Kathy. I wanted to put the presents under the Christmas tree. The box contained presents for everyone, me, Hugo, Moonie and Ray (Gregg's gift was in a separate package). I deposited the presents under the tree and went to dispose of the box. I came back into the hallway where we had set up the tree to admire it now that it had presents under it (we set the tree up in the hallway so that we didn't have to rearrange furniture - we didn't want Ray to have to learn a new layout - although, honestly, I don't think it would be a problem for him. He's so ADAPTABLE). Ray was nosing around the base of the tree. He stretched his neck out under the tree and very carefully picked up a gift. He maneuvered it out without disturbing any ornaments then stood with the wrapped present in his mouth, his tail wagging. I went to check the tag. It was for him.