12 May 2009

I AM A SAD SAD PUPPY!  Dog training is OVER.  I liked dog training, it was so much fun.  It was always an exciting time, especially when I got to learn something new.  Most days when dad would come home he would relax in front of his computer.  I would nap on my doggie bed in his radio room.  When dad would get up, I would tag along.  But I could always tell a dog-training day.  Dad would come home and immediately get changed.  Then he would get my green training bag out and check it over.  He would make sure there were doggie treats in it too.  And dad would always slip me a few treats while he was checking the training bag.  Every day is nice, but training days were extra-special.

Well - today was like every other training day.  Dad got changed quickly.  Mom gave me a bath - she said I had to look nice for graduation.  Dad came out to dry me off.  I like that, I make a game of it.  Dad tries to dry me with the towel, and I try to steal the towel from dad and run with it.  Some days dad tries to use two towels, but then I steal them both!  Dad got me dry, with a lot of tugging and playing.  Dad tries to scold me, but he is laughing too so I know he doesn't really mean for me to "stop-it".  Dad even brushed me some.  I like getting brushed.  It feels good, almost as good as rolling in the stinky dirt!  Then we went in the house and dad made my training bag ready.  And yes - there were fresh treats and dad did slip a few to me.  YUM!  We loaded up in the dog-show van for the trip.  I'm a happy dog - a happy happy dog.... we are going to dog training.  Daisy had to stay home this time.  Sorry Daisy.

I am getting used to traveling.  It is exciting to go places, but the actual trip isn't so interesting any more.  After a while it all looks the same.  So I am learning to nap a lot on the trip so I can have lots of energy when we arrive wherever we are going.  I know that Uncle Parker didn't like traveling.  He only traveled because he wanted to be wherever my dad was.  Uncle Parker did a lot of things only because he could do it with dad.  Like swimming.  Uncle Parker didn't like swimming.  He did it because dad asked him to do it.  Daisy doesn't like swimming either.  Maybe it is a black-dog thing, I dunno.  I like swimming.  So far I like everything I do with dad.  I trust dad, he won't let anything happen to me.  Anyway, so I was napping on the way to dog training.  I woke up when we arrived, all ready to go in with dad.

We always arrive at dog training early.  Dad lets me run, and there is a doggie toy there that is my favorite.  It is called a BAD CUZ.  It squeaks like a hurt rabbit, and dad kicks it around the training room for me to chase.  Dad says he does it so that I can burn off energy and pay better attention in the training.  That's what dad thinks.  I am a puppy, I have more energy than that.  After a while other dogs start coming in, and dad puts the BAD CUZ away.  Then I get my training collar on, and we get ready for class.  When Karen the alpha-human comes in dad really pays attention.  And dad makes me pay attention too.  It seems as I get older dad expects more of me.  I guess that is all about growing up.

Training on this day was all about fun.  We didn't do a lot of anything, we kind of just played with the tunnel and jumps.  And the humans talked a lot too.  Then Karen passed out papers to the human owners.  It said DIPLOMA on it.  Dad got a paper too.  All the dogs got bags of doggie treats.  I wanted to dig right in to mine.  But dad said first we had to take a graduation picture.  So we did.  Then dad gave me some of the doggie treats.  Mmmmmm - yummy.  But dad wouldn't let me have them all.  He said I had to share some with Daisy when we get home.  Well.... OK dad.  Daisy did share her first ever winners cookie with me.  I will share too.  And that was it.  Dog training was over.  Karen said there would be no dog training classes for a long time now, maybe a few months.  NO MORE DOG TRAINING?????  I AM A SAD SAD PUPPY!  I will miss my friends Karen and Raven, and all the other dogs in my class.  I was very sad all the way home.  I didn't even care when dad gave Daisy part of the best cookie from my goodie-bag.

Looking back, I now can see that I have done pretty well.  I graduated from puppy class with Karen.  I graduated from basic training class with Karen.  I passed my first test and was awarded the Canine Good Citizen Title.  I guess this is pretty good - for an 8-month old GOOD DANE.  I am still growing, so it can't be long now until I become a GREAT DANE.  And I sense that there is more to come, I just don't know what it is.

Uncle Parker, I think some times you are watching over me.  There are times when I think about doing stuff, like playing with dad's slippers.  And a voice in my head says "ahh - don't do it".  I am so happy with my life, even if I am sad that dog training is finished.  And Uncle Parker, thank you for picking me to be dad's new puppy.  I never knew that life with a human could be so wonderful.  I know dad misses you.  I miss you too.  When dad was teaching me to swim there was water in his eyes that I don't think came from me splashing.  I think he was remembering teaching you how to swim.  But I have a good doggie life.  Thank you Uncle Parker.

Well - no more dog training.  Soooooo.... I wonder what comes next?  There just has to be more......  More Great Adventures.....  I think I will take a nap and dream about them.