Dogs are wise.  They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds and do not rejoin the world until they are whole once more.  ~Agatha Christie

Rescuing Seven from the pound seemed like a good move.  Not only did it benefit the dog, but it gave Scooby a playmate and a new addition to the Piper household.  This was about a year ago, which he was already almost a year old at the time.  Sure there was an adjustment period, especially where Pudd’in was concerned, but everyone seemed to work it out and the harmony of the house was whole again.

Now Seven seems to be going through his terrible two’s.  He is out of control, jumping on people and getting into complete mischief.  This weekend was the perfect example of what I’m talking about.  I will first tell you about the sleeping arrangements.  For the past few months, when I sleep at my parent’s house, Seven anticipates my actions and jumps into bed before I can and won’t get out.  He is like a log spread out over the entire bed.  In recent days, so I’ve let that one slide and now the route includes Pudd’in, Seven and now sometimes Kyle, for reasons I have no idea.  Great full bed!  Then when I sit in the chair in the living-room, either reading a book or watching TV, Seven feels the need to jump on me.  Jumping up a little for some attention I can handle, but he literally jumps halfway across the room and lands in my lap with his paws like baseball bats slamming my chest.  He doesn’t even care if Pudd’in is on the arm of the chair or who may hurt.  I get it, all this might be just for some attention and love, I can almost excuse these actions as a child in need of attention.  Good or bad attention is still attention.  I have been through this before with Kyle, so I understand the signs, but some actions are not excusable.

On Saturday, Kyle and I took our weekly hike through the woods with the boys (Seven and Scooby).  Now on their defense they have been really good with the walks, listening to me when they are too far away, and coming when I call.  Great!  Just to give you a comparison between the dogs.  When Scooby’s running towards you, he will zip right past you without taking you down.  He may get really close when he whizzes past, but as long as you don’t make any sudden movements he will not hit you.  Seven on the other hand, will run you over like a freight train, and leaving you like a hit and run victim.  He does not care who he plows down.  As Kyle and I started to make our way down the hill, which is a tricky path since there are a lot of loose rocks and it was icy on the flat stones where the water had once ran, I noticed that Seven was out of my line of sight.  Naturally, I called Seven and he came, however, he shot out like a missal.  Just as I turned my head to see how to avoid the racetrack he was headed on, I saw him collided with Kyle.  Poor Kyle, his feet flipped up into the air while Seven crashed through like a tornado.  I can’t believe Seven would just run into him like that!  It wasn’t like there wasn’t enough room, cause there was, at least three people could walk on the path side-by-side comfortably.  It was like he just wanted to knock him over!  After that incidence we made it home and the dogs were being good, until we decided to make oatmeal cream pies.

Every once in a while, Kyle and I enjoy making something new together.  We both enjoy cooking, and I will admit, since I opened my account I do like to review different recipes and save them for later.  Well, since I showed Kyle my board and some of the recipes, he has wanted to make something new.  After we got back from our walk, Kyle said, “Hey Aunt Heather, I have a good idea, let’s make something new.”  Well, how and I resist?  We looked on my Pinterest board and he commented that he wanted to make the Oatmeal Cream Pies, which I have always wanted to make since I saw them.

As we retrieved the ingredients, both dogs kept getting in our way, but nothing out of the ordinary.  We finished making the first part of the batch and had to immediately taste the final product, still warm.  They were awesome!!  In the meantime, I let the cookies cool on the counter and me, Kye and dad were watching TV in the living-room.  Gigi was at the store.  Note the Oatmeal cookies were cooling on the parchment paper they were baked on.  As we sat there, both dogs were playing with news toys, courtesy of dad.  Just then, I heard the parchment paper moving.  It was coming from the kitchen.  At that moment, I looked around and saw everyone in the house in the same room except for Seven.  Dad called Seven and he didn’t come flying into the room.  He doesn’t realize that I’m pretty quick and I flew around the corner of the kitchen to see him with his head down, trying to escape to the laundry room.  Immediately, I saw all but two cookies GONE!  He ate just about the entire batch of cookies right off the counter!  Really?  Yep!  I was so made at him.  He still had his shock collar on and I did zap him, which I try never to use.  Then I put him in his cage and walked around like my mom, ranting and raving like a crazy person.

Seven stayed quite in his cage trying not to draw any unwanted attention for at least an hour.  Then I let him out.  He humbly walked out and joined us in the living-room.  He was good, well naturally since he was in serious trouble.  Not long after, Seven was at the door crying to be let out.  Couldn’t image that, a dog with a weak digestive system who can only eat dog food without getting an upset stomach all of a sudden needing to go out after eating a dozen Oatmeal Cream Pies!  Without hesitation, I let Seven out to do his business.  Then I realized he was out for a while, I forgot about him.  As I opened the door on the porch, I saw Seven run down the steps with his head down and his tail between his legs.  It didn’t register what had just happened, but then it hit me, Seven tore open the garbage mom had set on the porch to be placed in the trash can at the end of the driveway!  I yelled, obviously, and Seven squeezed between me and the house to get back in, running straight to his cage.  As if self punishing himself.

What a stinker!  Is this a phase of going through the terrible two’s?  Or is this in retaliation for something else?  What to do with Seven?  I can tell you Kyle felt sympathy on the dog.  After he got in trouble with the Oatmeal Cream Pies, Kyle slipped his water bowl in the cage with him, like he was suffering in the kitchen for that hour.  Then Kyle came to me to take some responsibility for Seven’s actions.  He said, “It’s not his fault Aunt Heather, I left my stool next to the counter.”  I couldn’t believe it, Kyle was trying to elevate Seven’s punishment.  At this point I was still mad, I said, “No it’s not your fault, it’s not like you left the cookies on the floor!”  Kyle retorted by saying, “But he used my stool to get up to the counter.”  I kinda laughed, because that was not true, Seven is tall enough to merely lift his head and he can reach the counter.  Ahh is it man’s best friend or the other way around?  Love Kyle’s heart!

Here’s the recipe I got from Blooming on Brainbridge site. Make them, they’re great!

Oatmeal Cream Pies

• 1-1/4 c. butter (softened)
• 1 c. brown sugar (packed)
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1-1/2 c. flour
• 3 c. oats
• 1 egg
• 2 T. vanilla
• 1 T. soda
• 1/2 T. salt
• 1/4 T. cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat butter and sugar till creamy.  Add egg and vanilla and mix well.  Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup and level with flat knife edge.  Combine flour, soda, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir. Add oats and mix well.  Add the butter mixture and blend well.  Drop by rounded tablespoons 2″ apart.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Leave in pan and cool 2 minutes.  Put cookies on wire rack to finish cooling.  Spread 1 tablespoon cream filing between two cookies.

Cream Filling

• 1/2 c. butter (softened)
• 2 c. powered sugar
• 1-2 T. whipping cream
• 1 T. vanilla

Combine all in medium bowl.  Beat on low till mixed well.  Then beat on high till light and fluffy.

ENJOY!