Dug made it clear I wasn’t getting any work done this morning. First, he sat close as I worked. Then he moved to the center of the room, growling and barking.

I thought he wanted a pick-up. When I reached for him, he ran.
After a few minutes of this back and forth, Dug paused his antics and settled by the closet.

Wondering if he wanted his toys this time, I opened the closet door. Dug sniffed around but soon sat down again.

Trying another approach, I pulled out the toy bag. Dug sniffed it, seemed disinterested, and finally gave up, choosing to lie down on the stairs.

That’s when another idea occurred to me—did Dug think his “blankie” was in the closet?

Sure enough, when I brought out his blanket, he perked up and cuddled it.

I said, “Nah, that was too easy.”

I replayed the encounter and remembered when he first sat by me.

A-HA!

I grab his bed from the storeroom, put it near me, and Dug brings the blanket and settles in for a nap.

The Non-Verbal Adventures of Dug-a-lee reminded me,
no words are neccessary to effectively communicate your message.