By Leroy

The Kong toy filled with totally yummy peanut butter…the gray tennis ball that used to be yellow…the stuffed T. rex missing its tail…my stuff is awesome!

But you know what makes me growl?  When somebody tries to take my stuff! I learned the hard way not to snarl when my dog mom tried to pry my favorite rubber bone from my mouth. That was the last I ever saw of that awespme bone…and let’s just say my dog mom was more than a little bit mad at me.

So how are we pooches supposed to guard our stuff without getting in trouble? Here are just a couple of new tactics you might want to try:

Okay, I admit it, I’m a hoarder. Big time. But after what happened with my rubber bone, I’ve learned the secret to successful stuff guarding: make big puppy-dog eyes. My irresistable adorableness always scores me a nice pat on the head, and my stuff is left alone! It’s ridiculously easy, and it works every time. Try it!

If you share your home with another pooch, you’ll have to use your noggin’ to figure out good places to hide your stuff. For example, if you’re a Chihuahua and your poochmate is a St. Bernard, hide your stuff under the bed, where it’s guaranteed to be safe and sound!

See? It’s pretty easy to guard your stuff and stay out of the dog house – that’s unless, of course, you actually want to go in the dog house! BOL!

Leroy is a 4-year-old “Terribull” adopted from a Carson, Calif., shelter by i Love Dogs writer Laura Goldman. When he’s happy (which is almost all the time), Leroy snorts just like a pig. He loves his cool stash of chew toys (a little too much). He still misses his sweet gal Sophie, but he’s head-over-paws in puppy love with his new gal pawl, Ella.