BarkingProse

Did you ever want something so bad you couldn’t even talk about it? Just thinking about it made your heart ache?

Since Mama and Shiloh showed up three years ago all I ever wanted was for us to get along as a pack.

When you’re a pack you move together, you think the same thoughts, you know what to expect from each other.

But from the beginning there was trouble between Shiloh and Tess. It got so bad we had to separate into two packs.

I went back and forth between the two camps but Tess and Shiloh always had to be kept separate.

After Tess died it was just me and Shiloh. We were a pack but a pack of two mutts is pretty lame. We needed at least one more soul to make a real pack.

Journey arrived last summer and I thought my prayers had been answered. But Shiloh took a big dislike to little Journey and bit her. So all of a sudden we were back to living separate lives.

Journey was so little she didn’t even understand what was going on. I asked Shiloh why she bit Journey but she wouldn’t tell me. It wasn’t the way things were supposed to be. I could play with Journey or Shiloh but the three of us could never play together.

I watched mom moving gates and dogs. She looked so tired and sad but she put on a good face for us mutts.

Then one day something happened. Journey slipped past a gate and trotted right up to Shiloh. Journey was wagging her butt and doing play bows to show Shiloh she wanted to be friends.

I started to get mom because I didn’t want Journey to get bit but Shiloh nodded to me that it was okay. Shiloh lay real still and let Journey sniff her all over. Then Journey stood still while Shiloh sniffed her.

When they were done sniffing butts Journey gave Shiloh a quick lick on the snout and lay down next to her. And that’s how my heart’s desire came true.

In that moment we became a pack again. I was silly with happiness. Now all three of us mutts can run together. We can chase the sound of coyotes and bark at the neighbor’s dog together.

When we move, we move as one. It’s a beautiful sight: us three mutts trailing alongside mom as she moves from one chore to another; us three mutts all snoozing in the same room while mom reads.

I’m so happy I think my heart is gonna burst!

 

 

You can rest assured it wasn’t my idea to go to dog school. I was willing to ride along when Journey went to puppy class but that’s as close to school as I wanted to get.

While Journey struggled through her classes, I’d sleep in the car. Afterwards me and mom would take a nice walk together.

One day out of the blue mom told me I was gonna take an advanced class for canine etiquette.

“You gotta be kidding,” I muttered under my breath. “That’s the last thing an old mutt like me wants to do.”

Out came my old training collar that I haven’t worn in years. I thought mom got rid of it a long time ago but she had only put it out of sight.

I quick polished up my slow walk and pretended I was happy to be going to class with youngsters half my age.

Truth be told I never was in a formal training class. I was home schooled and then forgot most of what I learned.

Living in the country you don’t need great leash skills. Mostly you have to come when called, leave the livestock alone, and mind your manners.

But there I was learning fancy new dance steps, where to stand when I met a new person, how to greet another dog on a walk. Much ado about nothing, though I have to admit it was kinda fun.

The weeks flew by with me mastering every trick they threw at me. The instructor was real nice and didn’t get in my face the way she did with the younger dogs. She said she didn’t want to insult me or make me feel uncomfortable.

Before I knew it we were ready for the final exam. Our class met at a local shopping mall. We fanned out across the mall and had to go in different stores all the while being polite and walking nice on the leash.

I had a great time. Mom said I did everything right. I even stayed by myself while mom went to Starbucks for a latte. I was a little nervous but I could see her the whole time so it was okay.

Now I can go shopping with mom whenever I want. She knows I can be trusted to mind my manners. Maybe we’ll go hang out at some outdoor coffee shop this summer and watch the people walk by. Life is good. Mom’s happy and so am I!

 

It’s hard to know where to begin. Me and mom have been so busy teaching Journey and taking care of Shiloh, we haven’t had time to write.

Maybe that’s not the whole truth. We were busy, yes, but mostly we were living in the moment and not taking the time to think about our lives.

It’s a new year. I’m gonna be ten in February. Whew! Who woulda thought I’d ever be that old and here I am trying to raise a baby.

Journey keeps me on my toes but she also wears me out. Mom makes sure I get some time away from the little rascal so I can snooze or lie outside without Journey pulling my ears.

Last fall Journey started classes at Puppy Manners. Me and mom took Journey to class; I stayed in the car while Journey had her lessons. After class Journey would tell me all about what she learned.

Since I was home schooled I didn’t really understand what Journey was talking about. One day mom asked me if I wanted to take an advanced class. Not knowing what I was getting myself into I said sure.

This week I had my first class. It was strange and exciting and tiring. I’m the oldest mutt in the class and I put on a pretty good show, if I do say so. Mom kept encouraging me during class and afterwards gave me a big hug for doing so well. I’m learning some new moves so I can dance with mom. How fun is that??

Journey had her spay surgery just before the holidays. The poor little mutt was awful miserable for a couple days but she bounced right back.

Shiloh made it through another Christmas. That was all we wanted. It’s been a year since her cancer diagnosis so it’s a miracle that she’s still with us.

Mom had a few sports injuries recently. Journey and I were having a scrum and not paying attention. I accidentally jammed my nose into mom’s eye real hard. That sent her to the emergency eye doc the next morning.

A couple weeks later Journey and I ran into mom from behind and sent her sprawling on the driveway. She landed in a mud puddle, which seemed to irritate her a lot. Mom said we were guilty of unnecessary roughness and an illegal block in the back. What the heck? She’s been watching too much football. Anyway, all she got was a sprained ankle and skinned knees. Could have been a lot worse.

Now you know what we’ve been doing. I promised mom I would pay more attention to BarkingProse in 2016 and get Journey involved. Me and Journey talked it over and she’s game to start her own column. Heaven only knows what that little mutt wants to say, but if you check in once in a while you’ll find out.