Big Man Charlie Does Not Like Brother-In-Law

Charlie is my big-man, male, Laboratory Retrieving dog. He’s about 90 pounds of real dog. He’s about as docile as an animal can get. Well, except, for when my brother-in-law is too close to him. Brother-in-law has been living with us for a bit now. I guess Charlie can sense the wife and I are stressed to the max. Charlie is smart enough to figure out that the only new thing around is brother-in-law so he must be the cause of our angst.

Charlie wants to eat brother-in-law. He knows he can’t, but he can wish can’t he. The first sign of this was when brother-in-law fussed at and hit, lightly, our newest dog, Suzie. Suzie came running in the room where Charlie and I were. She was somewhat scared and had her feelings hurt. Charlie knew just what to do. He came to check out Suzie to make sure she was all right. When he was satisfied that she was fine he took off down the hall heading toward brother-in-law. I stopped him, but the deal was on then. Charlie has been eyeing brother-in-law with a wary eye since then.

One night brother-in-law and my wife were discussing his Social Security deal. Brother-in-law got animated and loud. I was taking a shower and could hear him. When I pulled back the curtain after the shower my big man was just sitting by the shower. He had that, “can’t I just eat him” look on his face.

Last night, I was sleeping with my two labs, Charlie and his twin sister, Casey, and Suzie on the futon in our extra bedroom. About 3 am brother-in-law got up to get some ice for a cold drink (he does not sleep at night). He pushed the lever for the ice to fall in the drink. I was sleeping very close to Charlie. When Charlie heard brother-in-law he growled that low growl a dog uses from time to time, “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”. I told him to calm down. He wan’t on duty at that time of night.

Don’t even ask about Casey. She does not bark or growl or otherwise let on to her feelings about brother-in-law. I know her though. If her brother, Charlie, is not in favor of brother-in-law, then Casey is not either. Casey would not waste time growling and snarling though. If she ever got enough she would just go on and eat brother-in-law.

My dogs are the most docile animals in the world. So you know how sorry brother-in-law must be for them to want to eat him. They know they can’t though. They can still wish!!