I’m trying not to have a complex about this, but I’m not even sure that I’m Number 4 on our dog Scout’s list of people preferences. I know with certainty that Spots 1, 2, and 3 are taken.
1. Lord and master of the universe. (That would be Dearly Beloved.)
2. Our mail carrier, Danny.
3. Ivy, our daughter’s Goldendoodle. (Yes, of course Ivy is a person!)
No. 2 on the list is the Pied Piper of canines in our neighborhood. His mail truck generates as much excitement with the dogs as an ice cream truck for neighborhood kids and he does it without a bell. Danny carries treats in his mail bag and hands them out to all the dogs he passes as he makes his rounds.
For the lucky dogs with mail slots on the doors, he slips a treat in along with the mail. Once he realized that Ivy was spending the summer with us, Danny added a second treat, but Scout would race to our front door and wolf down both treats so fast that he barely had time to get his fingers out of the slot.
After Danny realized what was happening, the mail slot started clanging three times. . . one time for the mail, a second time while he tossed in a treat aimed toward the left, then a third clang to aim one to the right–to give Ivy a better chance of getting to the one meant for her.
When DB took the pair on their morning walks, they watched for the mail truck and pulled in that direction, even if they’d already been treated on another street.
Emily, the big black lab on our block, has a case of Danny-love, too. Once I saw Emily lying in the grass several streets away from ours. I would’ve thought she’d been hit by a car but for the disgusted look on her owner’s face as he tugged on her leash.
“Is Emily all right?” I asked him. He nodded.
“Then what is she doing?”
“Stalling. She’s hoping Danny will come by.”
As the weeks progressed, Ivy became wiser about the magic mail slot. Rather than try to outrun Scout, she decided to outsmart her.
Having Ivy here for two months has been wonderful for Scout. She appears to have lost her fear of other dogs, if her romps with Ivy are any indication. We began calling them Thelma and Louise. I’d be embarrassed to admit how many videos DB and I have made of those two clowns and their antics.
Over the weekend, we returned Ivy to her peeps. It was a happy reunion for all of them, but we certainly miss her. I hope Ivy doesn’t encounter any mail carriers for a while.
They might misconstrue her salivating.
Did you hear the one about the unstamped letter?
You wouldn’t get it.
Merrilymarylee's Weblog 
Your mailman brings doggie treats? All mine brings is junk mail.
Back when I had dogs, they hated the mailman with a vengeance. In fact, if they saw a mail carrier while I was driving down the street, they would try to plunge through the car windows to get at him. Your mailman is very wise indeed!
I love the way Ivy’s eyes are glowing with devilish delight at outfoxing Scout. ha!
Add me to the list of those that love Danny. What a neat guy. Bet he doesn’t even carry pepper spray.
What a clever dog Miss Ivy is. She is blocking the plate like any good catcher.
Great post about the BFFs (except when it comes to sharing treats). In WI, our garbage was collected by workers in golf carts. If we were out walking they would stop and give the girls treats.
What a clever mailman! Ivy is a smarty, but Scout has the last word when Ivy goes home and she has Danny all to herself–and maybe two bones, until someone tells…
I love your mailman!
Pam
Sidewalk Shoes
Aww, this is a great story! And what a fabulous mailman you have!!
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