BarkingProse

I was a mere youngster of several months when I first went to Camp Codie for puppy day care. My people worked all day and didn’t want me alone.

Camp Codie was in the city in those days. Codie ruled her little universe and charmed everyone she met.

Because Codie was an Australian Shepherd and I a golden retriever, we had some early misunderstandings. I wanted to haul things around in my mouth. Codie wanted to play bump and run.

Being of a compliant nature, I put aside my retriever instincts and learned to play Aussie style. To this day I still remember how to play defense in pursuit of the ball.

Year after year I spent summers at Camp Codie. It was my second home, one where I always felt welcome.

As Codie grew older our play times became less vigorous, but we occasionally engaged in a brief and satisfying game of chase.

One day Codie took me aside and whispered that there was a puppy coming to Camp Codie. I was horrified. A sniveling, chewing, mindless puppy with a total lack of civility. Hideous.

Codie was not pleased either. She had been asked by her people to raise a youngster and she had reluctantly agreed. I was not there the day Asher arrived. Thank god! Over time I grew used to Asher and eventually took a liking to him.

When Codie turned fifteen her health began to decline, but she remained dignified and in possession of her wits. I was with her at Camp Codie on the last day of her life and wished her godspeed on her journey across the rainbow bridge.

Camp Codie is forever. It’s a place where people and dogs live in harmony, where you’re supposed to have fun, where the only rule is kindness. I’m coming back this summer. Maybe I’ll do another bark then.

 

People aren’t the only ones with manners. Us dogs have manners too.

Manners help us get along with each other in this world. It’s s sign of respect.

When people meet for the first time they usually shake hands. Dogs sniff butts.

Dogs with good manners understand they sniff and get sniffed. Dogs with bad manners only want to sniff.

Mom teaches us about manners every day. Don’t jump on people, sit to be greeted, don’t grab treats.

Even meal time has its own set of manners. All us dogs stand around in the kitchen while mom makes our meal. When she’s almost finished we all sit down. One by one our names are called and we get sent to our feeding station.

Because I start first I’m done first. I always stay a respectful distance away from Tess and Jack until they finish eating. Then we all run around and lick the other bowls.

Sometimes you don’t always know what to do in a situation. Like yesterday. Jack was sleeping. I was playing ball. The ball took a funny bounce.

Jack is deaf and sleeps a lot. Well, the ball landed right next to his head and stayed there. I tiptoed up to him hoping he was awake.

Nope. Sound asleep. I stared at him for a while hoping he would wake up. Nope. Still sleeping.

Oh, I coulda grabbed the ball. It would have startled Jack, but he wouldn’t complain.

Out of respect for Jack I went and got mom. Mom started laughing and grabbed her camera. Then she got me a different ball and we left Jack sleeping.

When Jack woke up I told him what happened. He said he wouldn’t have cared if I took the ball even if he was asleep.

See, that’s what manners can do. You’re polite to somebody and they treat you real nice in return. I like that!