Bravo's latest obsession

Bravo is now obsessed with tomatoes. I discovered this one day when I realized he'd been out for quite some time while I played on the computer, and he hadn't yet appeared on the deck asking to come back in. Usually this takes only a couple of minutes - 5 at the most. So I went out to look for him and found him digging at the fence line. Apparently, a squirrel had been eating a tomato and left it in full view on the other side of the fence. Fortunately, our neighbors had installed edging, so the only damage was a little depression on our side.

A couple of days later, we found he was digging a little to one side of the first location. Yes, there was another tomato looking very tantalizing on the other side of the fence. And then yesterday, he had a new location and I realized that the neighbor's tomato plant is right next to the fence. It seems Bravo didn't really notice them until they turned bright red. Though since he is supposed to be color-blind, perhaps it is their scent as they ripen that he notices, rather than the color. In any event, it is driving him crazy to see (smell) them practically touching the fence, and the spaces in the chain link are too small for him to bite them.

The neighbors came to sell gift wrap for the school tonight, and the mom said that Bravo could have the tomatoes. I'm not sure that's a good idea. Russ doesn't think he'll like them, but I'm not so sure.

So now I watch him when I let him out. He always goes directly to the fence, and if he appears too intent, I bang on the door or make my "admonishing" sound. He stops immediately. Though he usually moves behind the tree, then, and I can't tell if he's digging or not. If he is, it can't be much, because I don't let him stay out too long. OOPS, he's still out - I'd better go let him in!