Wagging Tales: Hayden Go Seek

Our dog Hayden has a new fascination... being chased and then chasing back.  This evolved into where we are now - playing hide n' go seek with him.  I hide and when Hayden looks for me I try to run to the patio before he can catch me.  The trick is to throw his toy way across the back yard and then go hide before he realizes I am gone.  Then the fun begins as Hayden runs crazy and whines like he's a lost toddler left in Walmart.  

Now, here's the real kicker.  Our backyard consists of two trees, of which the cedar is the only one I hide behind (since the branches go to the ground he can't see me).  The rest of the yard is pretty bare with only a couple of corners to stand behind at the edge of the house or behind the AC unit.  I really thought it would be fun for five minutes, then he'd catch on.  Well it's been about month and damn... that tree is a really good hiding spot.  Even though he sees me running out from behind it every time I decide to make a dash for the back patio, Hayden still never thinks to look there first.

Case in point...

Hayden brings me his tennis ball ring - "the donut" - and lets me know he is ready to play.  He is very optimistic that this time he's going to win.

I throw the donut to the fence and instantly begin my sprint to hide behind the tree before he notices where I've hidden.

Sadly enough, I'm behind this little thing... mysteriously I've vanished in Hayden's mind. 

Hayden returns to the scene of the crime and begins sniffing, I'm gone.

The panic sets in after circling the yard a few times.  Colder... colder... ice cold... you're freezing... you're at the North Pole.  After about a minute of waiting (and trying not to laugh) and with Hayden's back turned to me, I run to the patio.  He arrives seconds later as he sees me run by.

Disgusted with his umpteen consecutive defeat... Hayden has a little pity party and yawns in disapproval. 

With a record of 20 losses and 1 win (I fell down one time and he caught me), Hayden deepens in his doggy depression after giving up on another attempt of winning hide n' go seek.