Supervising a card game... "Supervising" a card game

Tristan accepts that he can't have any and he can't touch, but he really, really wants to see. And sniff.

Watching TV. Yvaine just wants to be cuddling me, wherever I am.

Lunch with Supervision

One of these Spaniels got a spilled drop of stew while it was cooking last night, and therefore knows how this smell tastes. One of these Spaniels did not. Can you guess?

(Yvaine is still very politely waiting behind my shoulder, not interfering, just hoping for another teensy-weensy taste. Or anything she can get. She's a mannerly lady, but she's also optimistic.)

Tristan also supervises video games. He likes a slightly more involved approach.

Playing video games. Yvaine supervises from the couch. She isn't sure if she disapproves. It's difficult for Yvaine to lay on me with my chair setup (trying to see the screen with as little pressure on my low back as possible) and she doesn't like that.

The most difficult part of trimming the Spaniels' claws is that they want to supervise. They're good at "sit, stay." They're good at "let me handle your feet." They each have a preferred method for the actual clipping (Yvaine: snip and move on; Tristan: aim, squeeze gently, then snip).

But they want to LOOK. They want to observe. And well, if they can see... I can't. Generally TFaTB comes along for nail trimming, mostly to hold ears out of the way.

Heard from the front door--

Tristan: *scratches the door*

Tristan's Fetch and Tug Buddy: Okay, Tristan, I'm coming.

*door opens, Tristan runs out*

TFaTB (looking down): Okay, you can come, but you don't have to.

*door closes*

(a moment later)

*door opens again*

TFaTB: I told you, you didn't HAVE to come.

Yvaine: *busily trots back inside*

*door closes again, TFaTB and Tristan go on to play in the yard*

...

She's just supervising. If she doesn't keep an eye on all the puppies, they might get into trouble. It's too bad she doesn't have opposable thumbs, so she can open the door for herself.

Yvaine supervises from her usual perch.

[Image Description: In a living room. Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, lays on a coffee table covered with a burgundy fleece blanket. This is one of her favorite lounging spots. Yvaine faces away from the camera, watching Tristan. Tristan, a black and white cocker puppy, lays on the floor in the middle of the living room, chewing on a (naturally shed) deer antler. One of his beloved long unstuffed toys is next to him on the tile.]

There was a pillow on Yvaine's[*] satellite chair. She decided that she'd be comfortable anyway. ... [*] As the only adult in the house[**], everything belongs to her. [**] in her opinion, and sometimes everyone else's [Image Descriptions: Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, relaxes in a satellite chair. One leg is propped across a king-sized pillow bigger than she is. She has conquered the pillow.]

It's important to properly supervise while the hairless bipedal puppies are staring at the noisy flickering box. [Image Description: Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, naps on a coffee table. The table is covered in a burgundy fleece blanket for her comfort and the table's protection. Yvaine, even asleep, looks Responsible and Attentive.]

When I lay on my stomach, Yvaine has many more ways she can supervise. Here she's chosen the sideways position, with her head centered across my back. From there she can see everything in that section of the room, and also be sure she notices the least movement from the puppy (that's me).

The Little Mother made a nest from which to supervise for the day. (Sometimes it doesn't matter whether I made the bed or not. Yvaine just likes bunched-up blankets and sheets, and she will make them available if she really wants them! And, it appears, location is Very Important.) [Image Description: Yvaine, who is a white and red cocker spaniel, lays across a rumpled patterned burgundy blanket. Grey sheets are visible under the blanket because it is bunched up in a pile. Yvaine is propped across the top of the blanket pile, looking towards the bottom-right of the image. In the background, a blue pillow is on the left, a grey pillow is on the right.]