Household Chores

This evening after dinner we were reminded just how smart Ella is.

I had just returned with Sasha from a post-dinner walk, and Ella came running over to me. I put down Sasha’s leash and reached out for Ella, but she bent over and picked up Sasha’s leash from the floor. She proceeded to carry/drag it over to the closet, and try to open the closet door (she got the knob to turn, but not quite far enough in either direction to open the door). Curious, I helped her out and opened the door for her, and she started putting Sasha’s leash away. Someone apparently has figured out that the first thing you do after walking Sasha is to put away her leash in the hall closet…

If that wasn’t enough, she then asked me to pick her up, and I told her to wait, since Daddy needs to get Sasha a treat. Ella immediately turned around, walked into the kitchen, over to the cabinet with Sasha’s food and treats in it, and opened the cabinet door. She reached in, and with both hands, took out Sasha’s treat jar while Sasha watched the process. I helped her open the jar, and she wanted to get one of the treats out. With a little guidance from Daddy to make sure it was done carefully, Ella offered Sasha a treat for the first time (which Sasha of course took, with a little bit more gentleness than if it had been my hand holding the treat).

Combined with the fact that Ella already routinely likes to hold Sasha’s leash while out for walks, I think we may have found Ella’s first household chores!