Today was tour guide day on my trails. And I got loves for payment – even though I let my person give the people directions.
I would have given the directions if she’d let me, but I couldn’t get a word in edgewise – and she wouldn’t let me off my leash. I could have led them right up the path.
We got the first group on their way and then we met some more people. They were from Chicago. I’m not sure where Chicago is, but it must be a strange place because they don’t have any cactus there.
And one of those people asked my person a question. “How do you keep a dog from sniffing cactus?”
She should have asked me that because I have the answer. It only takes one time.
But really, dogs don’t need to sniff cactus because nobody leaves their messages on them. Well, maybe once – but then they never do it again.
So if I do notice a message on a cactus I know it’s probably from a Chicago dog, or a new pup – but never from one of my friends.
You see that tree over there?
That’s where all the messages are.
And that’s why we Arizona dogs don’t sniff cactus.
bongodogblog 
marina kanavaki
November 6, 2012 at 10:35 am
…and what a clever doggy you are, Bongo!!!!
🙂
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Thanks Marina. I do my best.
jaxart4animals
November 6, 2012 at 10:53 am
Cactus’s don’t like Chicago-an’s.. or they certainly don’t like me or my friend. Every time we go to Arizona we get bit by a cactus. I learned to stay far away after the 2nd time, but my friend still hasn’t learned to keep clear haha..
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Jackie, you definitely have to be careful around the cactus. Next time your friend comes maybe I should give some cactus avoidance lessons.
jaxart4animals
November 9, 2012 at 10:11 am
Sounds like a much needed lesson for her..
Genevieve Petrillo
November 6, 2012 at 11:19 am
You are a smart learner, B. We have no cactus here in NJ, but crispy autumn leaves pinch my nose when I sniff them. I jump away and find more crispy leaves and try again. And again. And again…..
Love and licks and NOT a smart learner,
Cupcake
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Cupcake, I bet those crispy leaves are fun to run and jump in though. We don’t have any of those on my trails. Just a few from trees in people’s yards, but not from the trees in my yard.
Kat n collies
November 6, 2012 at 11:19 am
“it only takes one time”
Good Answer Bongo! 🙂
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Thanks Kat n Collies. You just learn to stay away from those things.
Dianda
November 6, 2012 at 11:25 am
Then I wonder what all these messages are on my little cactus! Suki and Hiro sniff it a lot!
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Dianda, I sure hope Suki and Hiro don’t get stuck with the pricklers. I think cats check for different kinds of messages than us dogs do.
Dianda
November 6, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Suki had one prickler stuck in her nose before. We got it out, she’s fine now! And I think she has learned her lesson. 😉
themisadventuresofmisaki
November 6, 2012 at 11:30 am
Sounds like you should’ve been the tour guide Bongo!
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Misaki, I think you’re right. They would have had a much better tour if I’d been leading it.
misswhiplash
November 6, 2012 at 12:39 pm
you would be a very silly dog if you did sniff the cactus and even sillier if you tried to leave a reply to an urgent message…even the thought makes me say ‘whoops’
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Patreciau, I agree with you. It’s not worth getting stuck with those pricklers.
Long Life Cats and Dogs
November 6, 2012 at 1:06 pm
“only leave a message on a cactus once” – very funny Bongo 😀
You’d have made a brilliant trail guide – can’t imagine why you weren’t allowed to show them the way.
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Susan, I guess I’m just going to have to take charge and tell my person who’s
bossthe trail guide.dianeskitchentable
November 6, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Bongo we don’t have cactus here but we have lots of prickly things so when Diane says “unh unh pickers Lola!” I pay attention. Almost as bad as when Moe’s in a cranky pants mood.
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Lola, Scratchy can be pretty dangerous too. It’s a good thing you listen to Diane. Those prickly things can be pretty nasty.
Will and Eko
November 6, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I may adopt “Don’t Sniff The Cactus” as my new life motto. Thanks!
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Thanks Will and Eko. It’s a pretty good motto to live by.
FleaByte
November 6, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Yeeeeaaah. Cacti are not our friends. Be they large or small, tiny prickles or big and spiny, they BITE. My dogs haven’t been bitten, but I have! Even my chickens know to stay away from the lone cactus in the back yard (It was a stray that a bird dropped in passing a few years ago).
There’s a giveaway at my blog, if you’re interested.
Bongo
November 6, 2012 at 5:49 pm
FleaByte, I think those cactus can attack sometimes. My person got bit when she was picking prickly pear fruit. She says it didn’t hurt until she tried to pull it out. Thanks for letting me know about your giveaway. I stopped on by and posted a comment.
eripanwkevin
November 7, 2012 at 7:15 am
Ouch!!! It must be really truly painful if we leave a message on a cactus, Bongo! You’re soo funny!
P.S. We have cactus here but most of them are in a plant pot, so they are pretty small ones.
Bongo
November 7, 2012 at 8:56 am
Kevin, those little plant pot cacti cause different problems if you leave messages on them. You usually get in trouble with your people. That cactus will get you one way or another.
onebluedog
November 7, 2012 at 11:05 am
I bet you would be the best tour guide Bongo! You could tell all the visiting pups to leave those nasty cacti alone so they don’t have to figure it out for themselves. I mean, cacti look nice enough and sometimes they have pretty flowers, but they are not at all nice to smell!
Bongo
November 7, 2012 at 11:13 am
Remy, that’s a great idea. I could initiate all the new pups to my trails and help them avoid getting pricked.
philosophermouseofthehedge
November 7, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Always knew dogs were the smart ones
Bongo
November 7, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Karen, I think we are. My person got into the cactus awhile ago and go a prickler stuck in her finger. When I do get near them the pricklers mostly just get in my hair and don’t stick into my skin.
tylersat99
November 9, 2012 at 12:18 pm
We think you are very smart Bongo not to sniff Cactus. We think they look like they would hurt very much if they tick in your nose. We know we would not leave any message there either so there is no reason to check. Mom has never wanted to touch one either 🙂
Bongo
November 9, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Lexie and Mica, those pricklers can be nasty – and sometimes they hurt more coming out than going in. Fortunately, when I do happen to brush up too close they usually just get stuck in my hair and don’t poke me.
colliesofthemeadow
November 10, 2012 at 7:37 am
Ginger says you should shove scruffy into one of those…. hehehehe
Bongo
November 10, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Ginger, if I did that I would be the one getting the pricklers – from Scratchy’s claws.
colliesofthemeadow
November 10, 2012 at 7:44 am
er… sorry Ginger is all thumbs this morning.. make that scratchy…..
sandrabranum
November 11, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Gee maybe I should’ve tried cacti when Mr. Sammo pee’d in our garage.
Bongo
November 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Sandra, please don’t give my person any ideas. She might put cacti in our garage.