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How Dogs Know If A Tennis Ball Is Theirs

By Terry Bain

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that you are a dog.

If the tennis ball smells of you, especially of your breath (of dry dog
food and pizza and whatever was in that puddle you thought was water),
then the tennis ball is yours.

If the tennis ball does not smell of you but smells of another dog
(of canned dog food and hot dogs and whatever was in that puddle
the other dog assumed was water), then the tennis ball is yours.

If the tennis ball does not smell of dog but the yellow tuft has been
removed as if it was set between a pair of front paws and torn bit by
bit, tuft by tuft, away from the rubber (you think it is rubber) underneath
(even if the rubber has been compromised) then the tennis ball is yours.

If you have been photographed with the tennis ball, then the tennis ball
is yours.

If the tennis ball is first noticed mid-flight or mid-bounce or otherwise
mid-motion, then until further notice (since you will be able to notice
nothing but the motion anyway until the tennis ball is safely in your grasp)
the tennis ball is yours.

If the tennis ball is gray or any visible color of the dog rainbow
(Violet, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, Red), then the tennis ball is yours.

In short, the tennis ball is yours. You are the one most able to make
appropriate use of it. Nobody has ever been so joyful over the
appearance of a tennis ball. Others may borrow the tennis ball
for various, unimportant reasons, but in the end, the ball belongs to you.
Enjoy.

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Aug. 11, 2007