Thurber's foolhardy experience with Muggs was when Thurber picked the dog up by the tail. Thurber knew the dog couldn't bite him when he held him by the tail, but the dog j.erked and twisted so much that Thurber knew he was not going to be able to hold to dog that way for long. He tossed the dog in the kitchen to lock him up but Thurber forgot about the back stairs. Muggs came back around and cornered Thurber in the living room. thurber climbed on the mantle piece, breaking many things, to hide from the dog.
