The Puppy Who Cried, "Stick!" and Then Was Redeemed

 There once was a puppy who would go off on long walking adventures with his two long suffering companions.  At first all was well and a smooth and steady pace was achieved, but soon, the puppy would begin to have doubts about the route.  Perhaps he should have eaten more breakfast.  Perhaps that acorn over there would be a tasty morsel to add to his morning repast.

And so he would lurch off the path, dragging his companion with him to nip over and lunge for an acorn only to be told to "drop it."  That was the worst.  To feel the acrid bite of the acorn on your tongue, that first crunch, and then, "Drop it."

But, it had to be done.  He dropped it.

So he looked for sticks.  And found them.  They were everywhere.  They littered the entire path as it was a forest path and was not swept with any regularity.  Over and over his companion had to bend down and pull bits of stick out of his mouth and he could see that she was not happy with this new turn of events.

I am standing holding some sticks, Coach is sitting in front of me and is looking off to the right.

And yet, he did not care.  For the lure of the stick was too great.  He could not pass it up. Even in the photo at the end of the journey when his companion held out some sticks to show what he had gathered and how he had slowed them down with his thoughtless chewing, he still yearned for them. Looked for them.

I am standing holding some sticks, Coach is sitting in front of me and is looking at the camera.  His eyes are glowing.

He was confused.  Should he walk fast? Or should he follow his instincts and eat sticks?  What should he do?  What did his conscience tell him to do?  What would he do when no one was looking?  That was the question.

Later when his companion was in the shower and he was in the dressing area, he snoozed lightly looking out from under the curtain and into the main shower room.  Two older Hispanic ladies approached from the pool area.

"Hola, perrito!" the one lady said to him, trying to engage him in conversation.  Coach looked at her.  This was it.  What would he do?  Then he got up and moved into the shower area and away from the two ladies.

Later the older lady saw his companion and apologized saying, "I tried to talk to your puppy when you were in the shower, but he was so good.  He wouldn't do anything.  He just got up and moved into the shower away from me.  He is much better behaved than I am!"  She laughed.

"He sure is!" Her friend added loudly.  Then they both laughed.  His companion patted Coach on the  and said sweet words to him.

Coach standing with a smile on his face with a smile. He is in coat.

He knew then he had made the right choice.  It was going to be a good day.

I Listen to My Dog

Wednesday morning, Coach, Zoe and I went to the YMCA to go walking.  Just walking.  We were going to put in 2 miles, about 40-45 minutes and then shower and head in to work.  Of course, getting up at 4:50 am to get to the Y with a 7 month old puppy is like getting your baby up and in a stroller for the morning jog.  It often doesn't go as planned or in a timely fashion.

First, I have to get out of bed.  The difference between 4:50 am and 5 am is monumental.  Imagine lying in your bed and thinking about getting up with that 4 am staring you in the face.  If you only waited 10 more minutes....

It was now or never, so we got up.  Coach and Willow (our chocolate lab) followed me downstairs for a pee break (for dogs) and coffee (for me).  Then it is puppy feeding time.  Then poo time (for the dogs).  Coach performed both really well.

I picked up my coffee mug, leash, three bags and headed for the door.  I was already 5 minutes late.

By the time I hit the Y, I was sure Zoe was going to be waiting, but there she was putting on her tennis shoes.  She had stayed up late watching the debates and was tired.  I let Coach out to greet her.  We walked in and I got a lock for the locker and then we headed out to the track.  Coach was in quite a hurry to get to the track.

Zoe, my walking partner, and Coach on the track in the morning.

Once out there Zoe started up her Nike app and we began walking.  About 30 seconds into it, Coach pulls hard to the left.  Eeek! A poo break.  But I was prepared.  I had anticipated a potential poo on the track and brought poo bags with me.  So I cleaned it all up and we were back walking in no time.

After about a mile, another lady joined the track.  She was a runner.  I think there was a boot camp class that was going to start at 6 am and she was early and wanted to get in extra running time, because she was super healthy and had extra energy to burn (I wonder what that is like?).  She jetted past us and as she did, she said, "I see a puppy in training!"  It was a rather happy greeting.  We said a jolly hello back and kept walking.

Coach, however, was amazed by this woman.  "OMG! Look how fast!  She is like Wonder Woman!"  You could see the puppy thoughts zooming in his brain.  He picked up the pace and looked back at me when I didn't follow suit.

It was like when you take your child to that first birthday party with all the moms in attendance and your child turns and looks at you and says, "Why can't you dress pretty like that mommy?" And you realize that your fashion sense is not what it used to be.  Or at least your child doesn't get it.  And there's no going back!

Coach had looked back at me and said, "I like the fast mommy! Let's run!"

Pumpkin, we are not running.  "Coach, buddy, you got the pokey mama." Zoe laughed.  "We aren't running and you can't change mamas now."

Coach was still straining at the leash and had a wistful look in his eye.  He managed to contain his disappointment and finished he walk with us.

Coach lying on the shower floor with his head poking under the shower curtain.

Then we hit the showers.  He was very good in the shower.  He stayed in a down stay at the edge of the shower.  Although, I do have to admit that he poked his head under the curtain as you can see in the photo above and looked at the ladies who were walking to and fro.  

Coach sitting a little damp in the shower.

Nobody screamed though, so I consider that a victory of sorts. And the YMCA staff has been very welcoming.

Today we went for another walk and since Zoe slept through her alarms so we had the first few minutes on the track by ourselves.  Now, if you know me at all, you should know that I am a slave to my overactive imagination and the only reason that Zoe and I joined the gym is that we scared ourselves walking in the dark in our neighborhood.  DON'T LAUGH.  It's true.  Well, I'm sure you are laughing anyway, so go ahead.  

Coach and I step out onto the track area, which I will say, is super well-lit and fenced in and all the brush is trimmed back. So, no problem, I say to my lizard brain where all my imagination and fear is contained.  

Then Coach stops and stares over at the middle of the track.  Way off into the darkness past the fence into the bushes.  Right where someone would be lurking.  

"What is it?" I ask.  Coach remains on alert.  "There's nothing there."  I say this in a whisper.  I realize that I've whispered this and I say it again louder.

Coach ignores me and stares more intently at the spot.  

I start thinking about all the horror films I've seen.  The ones where the girl goes out in the dark and her dog sees the psycho killer and the audience screams, "Don't go in there!" and the girl says, "Oh, Sparky, there's nothing there! You silly!" And the audience screams, "Don't go in there you idiot!!!" And she goes in there. And the audience screams, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" And the psycho killer gets her. And the audience screams, "Why didn't you listen to your dog!!!!"

I look down at Coach.

Maybe we'll do obedience drills right here until Zoe comes.  I'm not stupid.  I listen to my dog, but I'm still not running.