All my life I have known that I am a girl. When I was a little baby before my human mommy adopted me, my dog mommy said to me in Dog Language, "You are a beautiful little girl." It makes me happy that I still remember that.
My human mommy adopted me when I was eight weeks old. She always tells me that I am a good girl and that I am a beautiful girl. In fact, we only have girls living in our house. Imagine my surprise when someone called me boy.
Here is what happened. Mommy and I were taking our long evening walk. When we got close to the pool, we saw a lady leaving the pool and going to her car. I didn't recognize the lady so I walked over to meet her. She was very friendly. She got down on her knees and gave me hugs and kisses. She said, "I really love dogs."
I could tell by the look on Mommy's face that she was very proud of me. I was enjoying all of the attention and love I was getting. The lady was still kneeling on the sidewalk next to me, scratching under my chin. She looked me right in the eyes and said, "You are such a good boy!"
"A good what?!" I said to myself. Why did she think I was a boy? I wasn't wearing anything blue. My collar and leash are both purple. My name is Ethel Frances. That is definitely not a boy's name. Then I felt a little embarrassed. Why does she think I am a boy? I looked at Mommy and drew my eyebrows together so she would see that I was confused.
Mommy looked at me, smiled, and patted my head. The she turned to the lady and said, "Thank you for being so nice to my dog. Her name is Ethel Frances. She really loves people. " Wow! Mommy is pretty smart. She understood that I didn't like being called "boy" and she found a nice way to tell the lady that I am a girl without hurting the lady's feelings."
"Ethel Frances! I have never heard that name. It is a beautiful name for beautiful girl! I am glad we met today, Ethel Frances. I hope to see you again very soon."
I hope I see her again soon, too. I also hope she will remember that I am a girl!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
I Can Heel and Look Backwards at the Same Time
I am a very smart dog. After you read this story, I know you will agree with me. Mommy and I were taking a nice long walk. It was a beautiful day and we were not going anywhere special. We were just enjoying our time together. That is until I spotted a dog across the street. I am friendly so I called out in Dog Language, "Hey you! Hi! I never saw you before. Do you live nearby. I do. My name is Ethel Frances. What's yours?"
He answered me, but I couldn't hear him because a big, noisy truck went by when he started talking. "I can't hear you," I hollered. Even though I couldn't hear him, Mommy could hear both of us. It just sounded like a bunch of barking to her because she doesn't know Dog Language. So Mommy gave me a command that she knew I wouldn't ignore. "Ethel Frances," she said sternly, "Heel." Why did she give me that command? I wish she had just told me to sit. Then I could have talked to my new "almost" friend.
But she said Heel and so I started walking right next to Mommy's left leg. That is what Heel means. The dog across the street was getting farther away. I turned around so I could see where he was, while Mommy was still walking. "Ethel Frances. Heel." Oh man! I forgot that I was supposed to be heeling. I decided that I had to figure out how to Heel and watch that dog -- who was now way behind us -- at the same time.
I kept walking and heeling and suddenly the answer popped into my head. Can you picture this in your mind? My side was next to Mommy's left leg. I turned my body and looked backwards while I was walking. I was shaped like the letter "U," with my head almost next to my butt. I held that position while I walked.
Mommy looked at me and burst out laughing. "Ethel Frances! How smart you are! And coordinated, too. I can't walk and chew bubblegum at the same time, but you can Heel and look backwards at the same time. Good for you. You figured out how to do what you wanted to do while obeying my command. I am proud of you and I sure do love you a lot!"
Do you agree that I am smart?
He answered me, but I couldn't hear him because a big, noisy truck went by when he started talking. "I can't hear you," I hollered. Even though I couldn't hear him, Mommy could hear both of us. It just sounded like a bunch of barking to her because she doesn't know Dog Language. So Mommy gave me a command that she knew I wouldn't ignore. "Ethel Frances," she said sternly, "Heel." Why did she give me that command? I wish she had just told me to sit. Then I could have talked to my new "almost" friend.
But she said Heel and so I started walking right next to Mommy's left leg. That is what Heel means. The dog across the street was getting farther away. I turned around so I could see where he was, while Mommy was still walking. "Ethel Frances. Heel." Oh man! I forgot that I was supposed to be heeling. I decided that I had to figure out how to Heel and watch that dog -- who was now way behind us -- at the same time.
I kept walking and heeling and suddenly the answer popped into my head. Can you picture this in your mind? My side was next to Mommy's left leg. I turned my body and looked backwards while I was walking. I was shaped like the letter "U," with my head almost next to my butt. I held that position while I walked.
Mommy looked at me and burst out laughing. "Ethel Frances! How smart you are! And coordinated, too. I can't walk and chew bubblegum at the same time, but you can Heel and look backwards at the same time. Good for you. You figured out how to do what you wanted to do while obeying my command. I am proud of you and I sure do love you a lot!"
Do you agree that I am smart?
Monday, June 10, 2013
Dog Hair - Actually It Is Fur
Mommy and I had a play date at the Home. I played with Valentina the Guide Dog, and Mommy played with Anita and Sophie. Anita is Valentina's mommy and Sophie is Anita's mommy.
Before Mommy and I left the house, she combed me so I would look pretty. At least I thought that's why she combed me. When she finished she said, "Wow, Ethel Frances! You are really shedding. I am glad I combed you to get all that loose hair off of you. Look at all that dog hair in the comb. Yuck! "What is so yucky about my hair. I think it is beautiful. It is black, with a little white here and there, and it is very shiny. Is it my fault that sometimes it comes out all over the place?
When we got to the Home, I was very excited. We haven't been there in a long time. Mommy did what she always does when we get to Sophie's room. She knocked on the door and when Sophie answered, Mommy let me go in first. Valentina came running to me. We can't hug each other because our arms don't do that. So we stood against each other and ran in circles.
Then Anita called me and at the same time, Mommy called Valentina. Valentina is a yellow Labrador Retriever. Mommy had on navy blue pants. Valentina was happy to see Mommy and rubbed back and forth against her legs. Then Valentina walked under Mommy's thighs. Mommy's pants were no longer navy blue. They looked just like Valentina!
"Valentina!" Mommy exclaimed. "You are shedding as much as Ethel Frances. Now my blue pants are blond. Look at your dog hair all over my pants."
I was busy snuggling with and rubbing against Anita. She had on a burgundy skirt. By the time I was finished, her skirt was covered with black dog hair. Anita said, "Oh, Ethel Frances. I would think your Mommy would be used to everyone shedding after all of these years. And anyway, you girls don't have hair. You have fur."
That was interesting, I thought. I only hear Mommy say dog hair. She never says dog fur. Before I could figure out how to ask what the difference is between hair and fur, Anita answered. "Marcia, you should be glad our girls have fur. They have oil in their fur so when they get wet, the water just rolls off. We don't have to dry them like we would if they had hair. We don't have to get them haircuts like we would if they had hair. So what if they shed. They can't help it. You might as well just think about how easy it is to clean them when they get wet and forget about the shedding. It is a waste of time to think about things you can't control. Right?"
Mommy agreed that Anita was right, but I did hear her mumble that she gets tired of vacuuming up dog fur.
Maybe Mommy needs an attitude adjustment. Maybe she should start thinking that the fur looks as good on the floor as it does on the dogs!
Before Mommy and I left the house, she combed me so I would look pretty. At least I thought that's why she combed me. When she finished she said, "Wow, Ethel Frances! You are really shedding. I am glad I combed you to get all that loose hair off of you. Look at all that dog hair in the comb. Yuck! "What is so yucky about my hair. I think it is beautiful. It is black, with a little white here and there, and it is very shiny. Is it my fault that sometimes it comes out all over the place?
When we got to the Home, I was very excited. We haven't been there in a long time. Mommy did what she always does when we get to Sophie's room. She knocked on the door and when Sophie answered, Mommy let me go in first. Valentina came running to me. We can't hug each other because our arms don't do that. So we stood against each other and ran in circles.
Then Anita called me and at the same time, Mommy called Valentina. Valentina is a yellow Labrador Retriever. Mommy had on navy blue pants. Valentina was happy to see Mommy and rubbed back and forth against her legs. Then Valentina walked under Mommy's thighs. Mommy's pants were no longer navy blue. They looked just like Valentina!
"Valentina!" Mommy exclaimed. "You are shedding as much as Ethel Frances. Now my blue pants are blond. Look at your dog hair all over my pants."
I was busy snuggling with and rubbing against Anita. She had on a burgundy skirt. By the time I was finished, her skirt was covered with black dog hair. Anita said, "Oh, Ethel Frances. I would think your Mommy would be used to everyone shedding after all of these years. And anyway, you girls don't have hair. You have fur."
That was interesting, I thought. I only hear Mommy say dog hair. She never says dog fur. Before I could figure out how to ask what the difference is between hair and fur, Anita answered. "Marcia, you should be glad our girls have fur. They have oil in their fur so when they get wet, the water just rolls off. We don't have to dry them like we would if they had hair. We don't have to get them haircuts like we would if they had hair. So what if they shed. They can't help it. You might as well just think about how easy it is to clean them when they get wet and forget about the shedding. It is a waste of time to think about things you can't control. Right?"
Mommy agreed that Anita was right, but I did hear her mumble that she gets tired of vacuuming up dog fur.
Maybe Mommy needs an attitude adjustment. Maybe she should start thinking that the fur looks as good on the floor as it does on the dogs!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Do You Know What Consistent Means?
I know what consistent means. It means dependable, always doing something the same way. My mommy is not very consistent about making my sisters and me follow the rules. Actually I am happy about that. Yesterday, Mommy and I were out walking. At first, she didn't give any commands so I was happy just roaming around, sniffing the ground and watching people. I saw a stick in the street and without thinking, I tried to run in the street to get it.
Mommy was angry. “Ethel Frances, No! You are not allowed to run in the street! You could have been hit by a car. That is very dangerous. I can’t trust you to walk without a command. Ethel Frances, Heel!” I have to be honest. Mommy was right. Running out in the street is dangerous and I know I am not supposed to do it.
So I had to Heel. I learned how to Heel in school. When Mommy gives that command, I have to walk by her left leg and stay right next to her. I Heeled for a few minutes and then decided to see if Mommy remembered that she gave me the command. I wandered away from her side, into the grass. “Ethel Frances,” said Mommy, “Heel.” Phooey! She remembered.
We turned the corner and saw some strangers. I stood up straight and made the fur stand up down the middle of my back. I did that to look scary and to protect Mommy. One lady said, “Your dog is beautiful. Can I pet her? She is so sweet. What is her name? How old is she?” Once everyone started talking, I realized Mommy didn't need me to protect her. They were friendly neighbors.
I was happy to hear the lady say all of those nice things about me. Mommy was busy answering questions, so I wandered off into the grass. When I finished sniffing the grass on one side of the sidewalk, I went around Mommy to the other side. I went back to the other side and my leash went around Mommy’s ankles. Mommy started to walk, but she couldn’t. I turned my head away so Mommy wouldn’t see me laughing.
Uh oh, I thought to myself. I am going to be in trouble because I stopped heeling and I wrapped my leash around Mommy’s ankles. I looked down at the ground, waiting to be scolded. “Ethel Frances! Look what you did. You are so funny!” I looked up at Mommy and smiled. I was thinking, “Mommy, I am glad you are not consistent. You laughed instead of scolding me for breaking the Heel command.
Mommy isn’t consistent in the house either. Sometimes before she gives my sisters and me a treat, she will tell us to Sit and Stay. Izzy sits for half a second, LuLu almost sits but doesn’t quite get her bottom on the floor, and I just stand there drooling. Mommy laughs and gives us the treats even though we didn’t obey the commands.
In a way, I like that Mommy isn’t consistent. I can do what I want, without getting in trouble for not doing what she says. In another way, I don’t like that Mommy isn’t consistent because I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know what is she expects of me.
Oh well. Mommy isn’t perfect. Maybe she just needs to go back to school to learn how to be consistent.
Mommy was angry. “Ethel Frances, No! You are not allowed to run in the street! You could have been hit by a car. That is very dangerous. I can’t trust you to walk without a command. Ethel Frances, Heel!” I have to be honest. Mommy was right. Running out in the street is dangerous and I know I am not supposed to do it.
So I had to Heel. I learned how to Heel in school. When Mommy gives that command, I have to walk by her left leg and stay right next to her. I Heeled for a few minutes and then decided to see if Mommy remembered that she gave me the command. I wandered away from her side, into the grass. “Ethel Frances,” said Mommy, “Heel.” Phooey! She remembered.
We turned the corner and saw some strangers. I stood up straight and made the fur stand up down the middle of my back. I did that to look scary and to protect Mommy. One lady said, “Your dog is beautiful. Can I pet her? She is so sweet. What is her name? How old is she?” Once everyone started talking, I realized Mommy didn't need me to protect her. They were friendly neighbors.
I was happy to hear the lady say all of those nice things about me. Mommy was busy answering questions, so I wandered off into the grass. When I finished sniffing the grass on one side of the sidewalk, I went around Mommy to the other side. I went back to the other side and my leash went around Mommy’s ankles. Mommy started to walk, but she couldn’t. I turned my head away so Mommy wouldn’t see me laughing.
Uh oh, I thought to myself. I am going to be in trouble because I stopped heeling and I wrapped my leash around Mommy’s ankles. I looked down at the ground, waiting to be scolded. “Ethel Frances! Look what you did. You are so funny!” I looked up at Mommy and smiled. I was thinking, “Mommy, I am glad you are not consistent. You laughed instead of scolding me for breaking the Heel command.
Mommy isn’t consistent in the house either. Sometimes before she gives my sisters and me a treat, she will tell us to Sit and Stay. Izzy sits for half a second, LuLu almost sits but doesn’t quite get her bottom on the floor, and I just stand there drooling. Mommy laughs and gives us the treats even though we didn’t obey the commands.
In a way, I like that Mommy isn’t consistent. I can do what I want, without getting in trouble for not doing what she says. In another way, I don’t like that Mommy isn’t consistent because I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know what is she expects of me.
Oh well. Mommy isn’t perfect. Maybe she just needs to go back to school to learn how to be consistent.
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