The Fagin of the dog world

  Yes, here is her mug-shot,,,, now don`t let that innocent `stolen butter wouldn`t melt in my mouth` look fool you, this animal is a confirmed and relentless thief!
   I really thought that Jilly was the limit when it came to snapping up of unconsidered trifles. Jacqui would confirm that she has an (un)healthy appetite. She stole a whole plate of newly baked buns left out to cool, one time when Jax was kind enough to look after her. But Laika really takes the cake--or rather she would if you left it at a hight of less than ten feet from the ground. She is so agile with it , can leap onto the table or work surface in search of nourishment with absolute ease. What`s more she`s shameless and will do so while you`re in the room, I have never known a dog like it. Even Jilly has the tact or instinct of self preservation to wait til you`re out of sight.
  Why don`t you punish her, you ask? Well, of course we do, but five minutes later she will do the same again. And there`s a further complication about that--We think that in her past she has been severely hammered (mind you the previous owner could plead provocation!) If she thinks you are really going to hit her, she defends herself by bared teeth and a ferocious growl. She has never tried to bite, but I feel it is a possibility. She will accept a quick slap or tap but it doesn`t do to persist. She doesn`t like it if you show you`re cross with her and will look so miserable and penitent (ha! ) that she soon gets forgiven. She is a very affectionate dog, ideal in most other ways.
   What provoked this tirade? Well Kim bought a new waste bin with a hinged lid and a foot pedal, which she fondly hoped would be Laika-proof. No, she shoved her nose under the flap and took out the contents to scatter it over the kitchen.  Keep her out you say. Not very convenient and five minutes unsupervised is enough. Then she found it easier to turn the bin over. I attached it to the wall. We put a heavy log on top, bit unsightly but seemed to work--as long as you didn`t forget the log, no, not even for five minutes. I made a wooden latch operated by an aerolastic which worked for a day. Then she found the knack of working the elastic down the bin so the latch fell open. I wired the elastic to the latch. This worked for two weeks. But just as I was congratulating myself on being cleverer than a dog, she attacked the latch and tore it bodily apart! I have reverted to the log but how long til she starts to pull it off?  The saga continues....

Bye for now going to see what Laika is doing....