Winter Storm #Pax and Roman "Good boy!"

by HTan
(In Z Woods)

Roman and his family got slammed this winter by #pax plus other storms on top of that...

We got 2 feet at least from Pax alone and with the snow drift and Roman's access to deck and the deck gate at 3 ft high and then the steps going up to the gate with snow buildup like a slide, we thought Roman would have happily "wandered away" to explore his territory (still fenced in but one thought he would jump out of that gate & deck).

AKA be the "escape artist dog".
The conditions are perfect for him, the access is there.

But...
This is his fifth proud daddy & mommi moment my husband and I experienced of Roman willing stayed like I think he thought we would want him to... Stayed with his family even with obvious opportunity to leave.

1st time the gate moment... Hubby's fault.

He was gathering his cycling buddies to ride outside the driveway by the deck & sunporch...
Stupido daddy of course forgot to latch the gate while he is out there greeting his buddies...
Roman out of curiousity of the visitors followed him out to greet everyone.... causing an audible gasp from mommi me.
Roman did his greetings (sniffing everyone) all around, then hightailed back to the deck where I am at to be by my side. Whew!!!

But would he repeat that again???

2nd time, I was out and got home.
And what did I find?
The gate opened and the neighbour boy was petting Roman on our deck.

I was between "crossed" of the open gate that Roman could have escaped and kinda "relief" Roman my boy is there.
I asked the boy why is he here and what happened???

He said "uncomfortably" Roman escaped the gate and he "helped" get Roman back to the deck... Roman's domain.
I know I checked the gate every single time I leave and I left this day later than hubby and I was last to check the doors... so no way did I not secure the gate.

But I let it slide...
I have the suspicion that Roman never left the deck or if tempted to leave, came right back to the deck (I always ask him to watch the house) not wanting to shuck his "job" for he is a serious working dog.
Besides the boy is 70lb at the most, Roman is already over 110+ lbs by then...

Lots of "ifs?" amid the "what?"...

3rd time, a thunderstorm has blown the latched gate opened... a foot wide (heavy gate) gap. Probably hubby again... yeah blame him.. lol. I still love my hubby dearly but he is "off" like that... growing old you know with memory problems...

It was an overnight storm...
We called Roman like we do everyday in the morning to have breakfast with us...
Looking out the slider, the gate is open 1 ft wide and Roman is still here, waiting to come in.

Hmmm... did he sneak to go anywhere I wondered???

4th occasion.

DD forgot to get her keys so had to stay with Roman till I get home (about 30mins lapse in time since she called) to open the door for her. She was doing homework on the deck and playing with Roman. She did not latch the gate and left it opened while she ran towards my arriving car in her haste to get into the door (yah she had to pee lol). Well, instead of leaving the deck, Roman went to the slider and sat till everyone gets in the house so he can be let in to greet me as well.

So yeah... What a good boy!

ADD:

That serious working dog in him... was encouraged since mommi told him via hand siggie to 2 fingers pointing at mommi's eyes (watching me) swival to point at Roman's eyes (watch) to lastly point at the house (watch the house). Have a habit of doing that every time I leave for my chores...

Do you think my Pyr boy is smart enough to understand what that means??? I personally think so.