BarkingProse

I was thinking the other day that out of all us dogs at the house, I’m the only one chosen as a puppy and raised by my mom. Here’s me when I was still at my birth home in eastern Washington. I was the only blue dog in the litter but because I have the fading gene, I shouldn’t make my own pups. That’s how come my mom got me.

Five weeks after I was born I knew who was going to raise me. Oh, I didn’t know what that really meant, but I remember being told my new family lived in Seattle. My mom came to see me and held me on her lap. I smelled an older dog on her clothes. That turned out to be my Aunt Codie, who taught me much of what I know.

Because my mom is friends with people who have my brothers, I got to go back to my birth home and see my family once in a while. Here’s a picture of me with my dad, Bug. He died young, shortly after this picture was taken. Nobody knows why.

I’ve had an easy life compared to Tess and Jack. I’ve always had the same people around me. I don’t worry that I’ll get left somewhere. I’ve had plenty to eat and a warm place to sleep. My people even make sure I have toys and fun in my life.

My mom tells stories about me when I was a puppy. Nobody can tell those stories for Jack and Tess. It’s like part of their lives got lost along the way and they were reborn when they came to Asherpark.

I’m glad we’re making a home for pals like Tess and Jack. We’ve got room for someone else when the right barker comes along. I’m voting for another Aussie. What do you think? Gotta run.

It’s hard to remember when Sherman wasn’t part of our pack. When he first arrived Jack wasn’t too sure about him, but he’s settled in and we all get along fine now.

Sherm may weigh twice as much as me, but he’s a gentle giant. He plays with his stuffies and doesn’t rip their bellies out like I do. Mom even let him have my favorite squirrel one day when he was feeling sad.

Sherm has really good manners. He doesn’t swipe food and he doesn’t jump on people. Good thing, since he’s as big as a person.

Sherm and I play hide and seek. Naturally I’m the one who hides. We don’t have anything big enough to hide Sherm. First we chase each other around the yard. I race around the barn and when he’s not looking I dive into a bush. I peek out to see if he knows where I am. He looks all around for me. When he looks the other way, I dash right past him and the chase is on again.

Sherm gets all worked up when Tess and I play the mouth game. He wants to play but he doesn’t know how. He gets extra pets since he can’t play our game and usually he gets invited up on the couch. Tess doesn’t want him on the couch because he takes up too much space. But Tess doesn’t always get her way.

Sherm brought some really fine treats with him. That’s always a good thing to bring special treats to share with the house dogs. That way we get off to a good start. I asked Sherm if he had anything to bark about. He said he’s not much for barking unless he hears a siren. Then he howls like a wolf. Too funny! Gotta run.