This is my graduation photo. I was just a little squirt back then and had passed my Obedience School Training with flying colors. My mom might tell you something different, though. It wasn’t my fault I wanted to meet all the other dogs in class. They made eye contact, so I had to give them a friendly sniff hello. And it wasn’t my fault I couldn’t control myself walking up and down the aisles in PetSmart. There were just too many inviting smells on the shelves. And it wasn’t my fault I pulled Mom out the door to the car. The Heal Command wasn’t working for me when I heard it was time to go for a ride.
Luckily, I’ve learned a lot through the years. My dad taught me to “sit up” and “stay.” My mom taught me “shake,” “down,” and “wait.” I have a hunch “stay” and “wait” mean the same thing, but I don’t want to get in the middle of Mom and Dad’s disagreements.
Mom keeps learning too. When I helped Mom write my book, Larry’s Words of Wisdom, she shared with me some facts she researched. For example, did you know that dogs can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans and can detect all sorts of different scents, like diseases, emotions, weapons, and drugs? So, I learn something new every day when I take Mom for a walk and sniff the bushes, rocks, and other dogs’ deposits. I know if my friend Bentley isn’t feeling well. I can tell if Nelson hasn’t taken his medication. Then there’s Rosie. I was a little afraid of her at first because she barked at me. But it wasn’t a vicious bark, it was her way of saying, “I want to play with you.” Since it’s been hot, I’ve learned that it’s cooler to walk on the shady side of the street. Like it or not, Mom’s coming with me in that direction.
I love to greet my friendly neighbors, and I’ve learned to tell which ones like dogs and which ones prefer cats. They give me pats, but they draw the line when I try to get in their golf carts.
Just because I almost didn’t pass Obedience School Training doesn’t mean I stopped learning. There is so much to know about the big wide world. Sometimes I go outside and just sniff the air. My special nose can detect lots of critter smells in the wind, like coyotes, javelinas, and bobcats. Life is full of learning moments. Enjoy them all.
Love and sniffs to all my readers,
Larry
