by Kristen Otte
“No, Zelda, this way!” Ben says. He pulls me to a path away from the play area. I lunge again, desperate to get in the fence, but Ben isn’t letting me go.
“Not today, Zelda. Another day we can go into the skate park,” he says. “I don’t think Mom would approve of you in the skate park.” I let my tail droop and follow him.
Within minutes, I forget about my skate park disappointment. The magic cure is the beautiful weather, active squirrels, and the long walk. We circle the path and regroup with Nate, Hannah, and Lucy for the walk home. When we return home, I am exhausted. I drink a bowl of water and collapse on the cool kitchen floor.
The next day, the beautiful weather disappears. A gloomy, gray sky takes over, and raindrops fall throughout the day. Nate and I wait inside for a break from the rain.
When the rain slows to a drizzle, we venture outside. Nate leads us on a short loop, so we aren’t far from home if the rain returns. When we reach the school, the rain stops. I pull Nate across the street to the path in the back.
“Where are we going Zelda?” he asks. I lead him to the door of the skate park, and I scratch at the fence.
“Do you want to go in the skate park?” I scratch again.
“Okay Zelda, we can go in,” Nate says.
Nate opens the door, and we walk inside. I start to run, but Nate pulls me back.
“Wait a second, Zelda.” Nate shuts the door and unhooks my leash.
“Okay, you are free!” he says.
I run along the fence first, looking for exits, and stopping for new scents along the way. I discover clusters of incredible blends of smells in the corners of the fence.
After I circle the area, I run for the first ramp. It’s one of the smallest ramps; I run to the top without a problem. From the top, I spot the tallest ramp inside the fence.
I run down the ramp, but I lose my footing on the slick surface. I slide for a few seconds until I regain my balance on the ground. I ignore the goof and keep running. I see the big ramp and go for it. About halfway up the ramp, I lose my footing again. Gravity is not on my side today. I slide to the bottom.
On the bottom of the ramp, I take a minute to let my breath return. I examine the ramp for dry spots, but none are in sight. Since a full-speed sprint failed, maybe a slower pace will improve my traction.
I run again. I keep my pace steady up the ramp, but I only make it a few steps further than last time. The rain starts to fall again. I know my time is running out. I run one more time up the ramp, but I am not close this time. I slide down the ramp, landing next to Nate’s feet.
“Okay Zelda, time to go,” he says. He leashes me, and we walk along the path home. The light rainfall turns into a downpour. We sprint the last block, but it doesn’t matter. Nate and I are soaked. Hannah, Ben, and Lucy wait inside the house with towels for us.
“How was that walk?” Ben asks.
“Actually it was great until the last five minutes. We went to the skate park,” Nate says.
“You did?”
“Yes, I let Zelda off the leash, and she had a blast running on the ramps. She tried to run up the tallest one, but the wet ramp held her back. She slid to the ground.”
“I bet that was fun to watch,” Hannah says.
“Yes it was.”
“Wait, it’s okay to let Zelda run in the skate park?” Ben asks.
“Sure, if nobody is there, I see no harm in it,” Nate says.
“Awesome. Can I go with you next time?” Ben says.
“Of course son.”
Three days pass before the sun and blue skies return. During our morning walk, Hannah steers me clear of the skate park, but with the wet ground, I don’t mind.
During the day, I watch the sun burn the damp sidewalks dry from my seat on the couch. The sun heats our front room too, and Hannah opens a few windows to cool the house. The skate park must be dry.
In late afternoon, Hannah laces up her shoes. I am ready for my walk, but Hannah grabs the other leash. I follow her with a droopy tail to the backyard. After she brings me inside, Hannah packs up and leaves. Maybe I can go to the skate park with Ben when he comes home.
A few hours later, Nate, Ben, and Lucy arrive home as the daylight is fading.
“Okay Zelda, let’s go for a walk,” he says. Those are the words I want to hear. Nate leashes me, and Ben puts on his shoes.
“Can I hold her, dad?” Ben asks.
“Sure, son,” he says.
I lead us down a different street than our normal route to get to the skate park quicker. They follow my lead, and we arrive at the skate park within a few minutes.
The park is empty!
Ben leads me to the gate of the skate park.
“Alright pug, let’s have some fun,” Ben says.
He sets me free. I sprint around the ramps, and Ben chases me. We run to every corner, and I run up and down the ramps with ease, saving the big one for last. I stand in front of the ramp and look up. It is taller than I remember. I start to doubt myself before my pug stubbornness returns. I jog to the other side of the park. I turn and look at my target. It’s go time.
I run as fast as my legs will carry my twelve-pound frame. I reach the beginning of the ramp and sprint harder. I run up and up and up until my wrinkles smash into the fence on the edge of the ramp.
I made it to the top!
I stand panting with my tongue hanging out. I ignore the pain in my forehead and look down at Ben.
“Good girl, Zelda! That was awesome!” Ben says. I smile. I knew I could get to the top of the ramp!
5
Zelda vs. Tucker and Whitney
“C’mon, Zelda, it’s time to go for a car ride,” Ben says. He grabs my collar and leashes me. Hannah and Nate pace in and out of the house, loading bags into the car.
“Do you have Zelda?” Hannah asks.
“Yes Mom. Can we go?” Ben says.
“We’re ready. Let’s go!” Nate says. We walk out of the house. I jump into the car and ride in the back on Ben’s lap. I look out the window until my eyes start to close.
I wake up to voices.
“What dear?” Hannah asks.
“Zelda is making funny noises,” Lucy says.
“She’s just dreaming and snoring dear. Don’t worry about her,” Hannah replies.
“How come I’ve never heard her snore?” Lucy asks.
“Because you are asleep too!” Hannah says.
“Oh.” Lucy giggles.
I drift back to sleep. When I wake the second time, I hear dogs barking.
Dogs!
I stand on my front legs to look out the window. We park at a house with two dogs waiting inside the front door. Both dogs are a little bigger than me. The dog with short white fur and orange spots is barking with excitement. The second dog has long gray fur, a beard, and a menacing bark. Ben opens the door, and we walk to the front door.
“Hi Tucker,” Nate says to the white dog. Nate bends over to greet Tucker. Tucker says hello with a long lick to Nate’s face.
A man and a woman walk into the room. I remember Nate’s mom and dad from their visit to our home. Ben and Lucy run to them, giving them a big hug.
“Did you have a good trip?” Nate’s dad asks. I run to him and lick his hands as he pets me.
“Yep. The drive was quiet,” Nate says.
“It’s good to see you,” Nate’s mom says.
“Good to be here, Mom.” Nate hugs his mom.
We move down the hallway into a big room in the back of the house. The gray dog sits on the end of the couch glaring at me. Lucy sits on the couch next to the gray dog and pets her.
“Hi Whitney,” Lucy whispers.
I jump on the couch to say hello to Whitney. I sit next to her, but she doesn’t move an inch or acknowledge my presence. Maybe she is tired or having a bad day.
I hop back to the floor and start exploring. In the corner of the room, I see a basket of toys. I grab the first one, a remnant of a stuffed squirrel. I bring i
t to Ben on the couch–he is always willing to play. Tucker sits beside Ben. With the squirrel in my mouth, I jump on the couch next to Tucker. When I land, Tucker growls.
Yikes!
I back away, not wanting any trouble, and leave the squirrel on the couch. I jump to the floor to explore the house instead. I trot through the hallway to investigate the bathroom and front room. My investigation comes up empty, but I like the long hallway. It is perfect for fetch and pug sprints.
I wander upstairs and find more bedrooms and a bathroom. I notice something strange in one room. Instead of a door, there is a gate.
What is in that room?
I look at the height of the gate. It’s probably too high for me to jump over, but maybe if I had the right momentum…
“Zelda, what are you doing?” Lucy asks from the top of the steps. “Let’s go downstairs.” She tries to lift me up, but I squirm my way to solid ground.
“Fine, stay here,” Lucy says and stomps down the stairs.
I follow her downstairs and troll the kitchen for scraps and snacks. I see two food bowls and a water bowl. The different food smells delicious. I will try some at dinner time. In the corner of the kitchen, I see a glass door. I look outside into the backyard.
“Do you want to go outside?” Nate asks. I sit by the door and look at him on the couch.
“Okay, I’ll let you out,” he says. Nate rises from the couch and opens the door without leashing me. I’m confused.
“Go ahead,” he says, so I go.
I run out the door, down the deck steps, into the backyard. I sneeze twice, and then sprint through the yard. I quickly understand why Nate didn’t leash me. Surrounding the yard is a tall white fence. Even though I’m trapped in a big square, I can run all over the yard, at super pug speed. I run from one corner to the other corner of the yard. My excitement grows and builds into a goose honking fit. When I recover, I take it easy and sniff the fence line.
This is great!
“C’mon Zelda, time to come back inside,” Nate yells. I sprint back into the house. I grab a drink of water before curling up on the couch with Nate.
I awake an hour or two later, and I glance around the room. Nate and Hannah are in conversation with Nate’s parents. Whitney is lying in the same spot on the couch. Tucker is out of sight, and I don’t see the kids.
My stomach growls, so I wander to the food bowl. The new food tastes so good! Whitney follows me to the food bowl, so I grab another mouthful and take it to the living room to eat with the group. I finish my mouthful and walk back to the bowl, but Whitney is waiting for me. She won’t let me near the food, baring her teeth when I come close. I try to sneak around the back, but she blocks my second attempt. I walk to the living room dejected and hungry.
Why don’t these dogs like me?
I am starving the next morning. Lucy is fast asleep, so I go downstairs. I am the only creature awake. I beeline for the food bowl, relieved to see it filled. I chow down until I’m stuffed. As I finish my last bite, Hannah and Nate join me downstairs. The rest of the family comes a few minutes later.
“Who needs to go out?” Nate’s mom asks.
Tucker, Whitney, and I run to the back door. She opens the door, and we sprint outside. Tucker races ahead. I follow him around the yard, in hopes he wants to play. I give up after a few laps and look for Whitney. She is nowhere in sight, probably inside already. I run a few more laps before Nate calls me inside.
Nate’s mom brings out the basket of toys later in the day. I spring to her side, ready to play, along with Tucker and Whitney. She throws a ball down the hallway and all three of us sprint to the ball. I reach the ball first, snag it, and bring it back amidst growls from Tucker. Nate’s mom throws the ball a second time. We run again, but I let Whitney retrieve the ball.
We play fetch a few more rounds, but I let Tucker and Whitney retrieve the ball to keep them happy. After a few rounds, I can’t hold off any longer. On the next throw, I sprint as fast as I can for the ball. I am one step ahead of Tucker and Whitney. I grab the ball and run to Nate’s mom, proudly displaying it in my mouth, as I run past the other two dogs. Tucker looks at me, but he doesn’t make a sound.
On the next throw, I find myself head to head with Tucker in a race to the ball. Tucker inches me out with his longer snout and grabs it. My instincts kick in; I jump on him, and we roll on the carpet. As we roll and pant together, I know the tension is broken.
Tucker, Whitney, and I have no more scuffles. We go for a walk later in the day. We play fetch and run outside in the yard together. Whitney and I even eat side by side at dinner, so I know Tucker, Whitney, and I will become best friends.
The following morning Hannah and Nate pack our bags. I am sad to leave the fenced yard, long hallway, and my new friendship with Tucker and Whitney, but I know when I return,
our adventures together will continue.
6
Zelda Goes to School
When we enter the dog store parking lot, my heart skips a beat. The dog store is a pug paradise. Toys, treats, dog food, and tons of wonderful scents fill the aisles. I have even met dogs on past trips to the store! If I had to live anywhere besides my home, I’d pick the dog store.
After we walk into the store, I take Ben and Lucy into the toy aisle. When Hannah appears at the end of the aisle, I am checking the selection of bones.
“It’s time for class,” Hannah says and motions to the right.
Ben and Lucy bring me to strange corner of the dog store and enter a doorway. Inside the small room with short walls are several chairs, a few people, and two dogs.
Dogs!
I bark and lunge at the other dogs.
“Dad, help me,” Ben pleads. Nate reaches for the leash.
“Okay. I have her,” Nate says.
Nate pulls me to an empty corner, and the family follows. They sit in the chairs. I jump in Lucy’s lap to study my surroundings. A black dog with floppy ears is sitting on the ground next to a man and woman. Another dog sits beside her owner, an older woman. The dog is dark brown with pointy ears. She is the biggest dog in the room, probably about seven pugs’ worth. Another woman stands near the doorway.
“Okay, let’s get started,” says the woman at the doorway. “My name is Rebecca, and I’ll be your instructor for the next 6 weeks. Let’s have everyone introduce themselves and tell each other about your dogs.”
Her voice is stern. She reminds me of the scary man from my old home. I sit and listen.
From the introductions, I learn the black dog, who is the size of five pugs, is a black lab mix named Bella. The other dog is a shepherd mix named Chloe. Both dogs are a year younger than me.
After the introductions, Rebecca approaches each dog, gives her a treat, and pets her. When she approaches me, I back under Nate’s chair. I don’t want to be near her. Her treat might be a mean trick.
Rebecca calls to me again, but I stay under the chair. She leaves the treat on the ground and walks away. I ignore the treat and hop back on Lucy’s lap. I don’t trust this Rebecca.
Rebecca talks to the group for a while, but I only pick up bits and pieces. I watch the other dogs, trying to get a read on them. I start to fall asleep when Hannah interrupts my slumber.
“Zelda, come here,” she says. As I jump off Lucy, I hear a clicking noise across the room.
What was that?
I look around the room.
Click.
This time the click is next to me.
“Do you want a treat Zelda?” Nate asks. I turn to Nate and see a treat is in his hand. How did I miss that? I charge for the bacon strip.
Click.
The click is from behind Nate. Nate holds out another bacon strip. I grab it.
Click.
Nate hands me another treat. Curious, I look around the room and see a familiar pattern with Chloe and Bella. A click, then the owner treats the dog. Although the clicking noise is annoying, it’s easy work for a treat. I eat four more treats before Rebecca in
terrupts us.
“Okay, your dog will now associate the clicker with treats and good things. Just remember, any time you click, you must treat. Let’s move on to the basic command of sit.” Rebecca turns to us and asks, “Does Zelda know sit?”
“Yes,” Nate says.
“Great. Let’s demonstrate the proper technique with her,” Rebecca says. Rebecca takes my leash and leads me into the middle of the room. I back away from her as far as the leash allows.
“Zelda, sit,” Rebecca commands. I smell the treat in her hand, but I don’t trust her.
“Zelda, sit,” she says again, glaring at me. I stand, resisting the urge to sit. She is not going to win this game.
“Zelda, sit.” Rebecca pauses for a minute and keeps talking, “If your dog is being stubborn, do not reward or click her. Release her, walk away for a minute, return, and try again.” Rebecca hands my leash to Hannah.
“Okay, let’s try with Bella. Maybe I’ll have better luck with her. Bella, sit.” Bella follows the command and sits. Click. Rebecca hands Bella a treat.
“Perfect. Good job Bella,” Rebecca says.
What!
I can’t believe the game was that simple. Sitting for a treat? I can do that in my sleep. My stubbornness and fear cost me a treat. Maybe this Rebecca is not like the mean guy from my old home.
“Zelda, sit,” Hannah says. I sit. Hannah clicks and treats me.
When we stop playing the sit-and-click treat game, my stomach feels like it is going to burst. I have never eaten so many treats in my life.
“That’s all the time we have until the next class,” Rebecca says.
“Okay Zelda, time to go,” Hannah tells me. We walk with the crowd to the door. On our way, Chloe approaches from the opposite side. I make a rash decision to show I am the top dog, even if she is seven times the size of me. I bark and lunge at her before Nate pulls me to him.
“What was that?” Rebecca asks. “Do you have the small dog syndrome?”