Gromit Sleeps
I take notice of him when he sleeps. Things he doesn't have time for when he is awake. Does he have any matts, are his paw pads in good shape, do his nails need to be trimmed, how does his skin look, does he need a haircut, how are his ears...the list is endless.
For Gromit sleep seems to be a last resort. He spins himself around the house nose in the air, any cats available for moi? Any food left on the counters? Perhaps a mail carrier needs to be barked off the estate. When he is sure there is nothing left to get him into trouble he falls into a deep sleep like a kid that tries to stay awake for every possible second with visiting relatives before literally crashing to the floor in the middle of the party, exhausted and limp.
We have a series of photos of Gromit sleeping on various pieces of furniture. He can be upside down or flopped over an arm or chin on a table next to the chair, it seems to matter not for his brain. He has a new favorite chair. He coils his big lanky body into this sitting chair near the fireplace. I think he is particular to this chair because he can see out the front window while he is sleeping. It is next to the door to the piano room. This door is how the cats try to sneak back and forth from the upstairs to the downstairs - when they are being sneaky that is...
Gromit can move one joint or stretch a paw, inhale and his core rolls like an accordion to flush any extra energy out and then he sighs heavily before his whole body relaxes. It is the time I feel most like he is relaxed and trusting that the world is fine. He just lets his whole guard down. Feels like kind of an honor when he allows us to sit with him. He whimpers little high pitched yips. His feet flutter in the air sometimes fast sometimes slow.
When he is woken up from sleep by whatever wakes a Gromit - the kitchen light going on, someone walking up stairs, a car in the driveway - he first looks up with half open eyes. His long white eyelashes pointing in the direction of his half awake gaze. His hair is usually flat on one side giving him a kind of drunken doodle look.
His sleeping time is when I exercise the most self control. I am so tempted to go over and join him - pet him, put an arm around him and snuggle in next to him, give him a kiss on top of that curly white head, scratch his belly. Gromit really prefers his space though - he tolerates this at times and even likes it but usually he prefers his own space his own decision about how close to be to anyone or anything. I try to just let him sleep and enjoy watching him his belly go up and down and hearing his breath go in and out, in and out, in....and....out.
Here is the start of our Gromit sleeping album -
Here is the start of our Gromit sleeping album -
How about you - do you watch your dog sleep?
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