JOURNALING: Once upon a time there was a little pup who lived comfortably in a nice warm home with her two-person human pack. It was a good life. Mornings consisted of tummy rubs. The “Alpha” provided daily food that was plentiful and yummy. There were a lot of treats, especially the home-made sweet potato sticks. There was playtime consisting of fetch, tug-of-war, and catch me! Alpha sometimes seemed mad at Pup during the latter game, but maybe Pup was wrong about that because the game usually ended with Pup getting a potato stick. “Nanny” brushed Pup daily. She called it “poofing and puffing.” Pup didn’t really care for it too much, but she put up with it because it made her look and smell so good. At night, Pup had her choice of several doggie beds, but she preferred to sleep with Nanny or Alpha. Alpha would let Pup snuggle as close as possible to her. Pup liked the cuddling a lot.
Pup had two jobs she had to perform for all of this luxury. According to “Alpha,” Pup had to “protect the house,” and “greet us (meaning Alpha and Nanny) when we come home.”
The house protection was accomplished by barking whenever anyone: came to the door, walked around the house, walked down the sidewalk in front of the house, walked down the sidewalk near the house, or MIGHT walk down the sidewalk. Occasionally, Pup would bark just to be sure anyone within earshot knew Pup was “on the job.” If anyone came inside, however, Pup would get scared. Alpha would protect Pup by holding her close.
Greeting was easy: puppy kisses and squeaks of joy that the pack was back together. Best were the hugs and return kisses, especially from Alpha.
Pup had a big yard in which she loved to run, just for the shear joy of running. She couldn't go too far, because there was a fence, but it was far enough for a wee pup.
One day, Nanny was going out the front door and didn't get it closed behind her. Pup followed her out and started to run with joy. Alpha was yelling at her, but Pup didn't pay any attention. Running was SO MUCH FUN. Suddenly, there were people running after Pup. At first, it was like a game of "chase me," but Pup soon realized these humans were strangers. Pup was scared. Then she heard Alpha's voice yelling, "Go home." Pup ran towards the voice and saw the garage door. She ran inside and then into the house. Safe!
After that, even when in the fenced yard, whenever Pup heard, "Go home," she ran inside the house. There's no place like HOME.
CREDITS: CREDITS: KITS: All Things New by Lynn Grieveson; Fur Babies by Kristin Aagard; FONTS: Lilith; Lucida Handwriting
