A Dog In The Manger

 

 Our dogs Maggie and Gypsy have an easy, playful relationship.  They often come up to the loft when I'm there, and I keep a basket of toys for them.

Every so often I put some new toys in the basket.  These toys are discovered immediately and quickly relieved of their squeekers.  They are then subject to numerous thorough chewings, and remain favorites for some time.  

This particular day, toy play started like this with the three current favorites:

 

A mischievous invitation was issued

and readily answered.

 It quickly escalated to this:

 and ended like this. 

 

For those of you who don't know the origin of the Dog In the Manger reference (Ron didn't), here's the story.

The Dog in the Manger
Illustrated by Edwin Fong

A Dog, looking out for its afternoon nap, jumped into the Manger of an Ox and lay there cosily upon the straw. But soon the Ox, returning from its afternoon work, came up to the Manger and wanted to eat some of the straw. The Dog in a rage, being awakened from its slumber, stood up and barked at the Ox, and whenever it came near attempted to bite it. At last the Ox had to give up the hope of getting at the straw, and went away muttering... People often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves. "Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?"                                             —Jonathan Safran Foer