[Louwants]

Christmas 2006, my friend shipped Christmas presents for me and my husband; and of course, for our pets. She sent a stocking stuffed with toys, chewies and a big reindeer, hanging out for the dogs.

Our Christmas tree is just a little 4 ft. tall artifical tree that is placed on a stand every year. Not only does it make it appear look a huge tree from the outside, it keeps it up and away from the dogs, so that they don't chew on it or the wires.

After the stocking was under the tree for a week, Duncan, would lay near the Christmas tree and softly whine. I was getting worried and was thinking something may be wrong with him and he was sick or hurting. I would fuss over him, and pet him and try figure out what was wrong. Finally, one night, his whining was getting intense, and I was getting very, very worried. I went over and asked him, what was wrong with him. He finally jumped up on the stand (something he knew he wasn't allowed to do) and stared at the reindeer, sticking out of the stocking, and started to whine even louder!! He had noticed the reindeer, and had been moping around wanting it, and knowing he couldn't jump up on the stand to get it was just eating him alive. So, even though it wasn't Christmas day, I gave him his reindeer, just glad to know he wasn't sick, just acting like a spoiled kid. To this day, he gives that reindeer a good shaking about every night before he goes to bed.