My first and most clever basenji was a very talented thief. He had actually perfected a bait and switch. He loved cappucino. My father would always come home with one after work, and Mowgli would immediately set his eyes on the prize. Once he ran to the back door, and began scratching frantically like "I've got to poop right now! 911! 911!" My dad ran to the back door to let him out, and Mowgli ran the opposite direction around the house. While Dad was wondering, "What happened to Mowgli? Where'd he go?" Mowgli had already stolen the cappucino off of the end table, and ran into another room carrying it (without spilling its precious contents mind you). He had it behind a couch ferociously lapping up the contents. By the time Dad realized what had happened it was way too late. Now he had to find where the little shite was hiding before he could get his cappucino back, or let alone administer the appropriate admonishment. He would bait my Father away from his cappucino using various methods over the next year or two(interspersed of course, he wouldn't want to look too obvious). It took a few times for Dad to finally overcome Mowgli's supreme trickery!
He would also stalk up on people reading the newpaper in the living room. It really offended him when people would park their face behind that much paper, completely ignoring him. So, he'd sneak up ever so quietly right in front of them, and right when they were lost in the troubles of the war, or political battles he would remind them what was important in life. HE WAS!!! He'd snatch it out of their hands, and take off running with it, as it was torn to shreds under his fast basenji feet.
I've had Dogs since Mowgli, but he was truly my "once in a lifetime" dog. He was a bad, self-serving, poor behaving little turd. So was I, and he was my best friend, and closest ally.
Vegas