Saturday the 13th, Day 22:

Do you know how in that movie, Lilo and Stitch, they give Stitch three days to become a Model Citizen?

I did it in only One. :)

Yep, that's right- I rule! I showed off for the whole world today, that I was a bright, clever, and VERY polite girl!

We started out by going for a ride in the car (which isn't exactly my favorite activity, even if I do love being with my peoples- I drool in the car. UGH.) But we didn't go far, and when I saw it was only to the PetSmart... wow, I was pretty happy! (they always have yummy things there!)

First we stopped by the vet. (uhm!) Dad said he just needed some papers, but I remember- the vet office=good. Those little numbered rooms? Not so good. I peeked around Dad, and I wanted to warn this one little puff-ball-mop dog that it was a dirty trick, them leading him into one of them, but... well. He probably wouldn't have listened anyway. He'll just have to survive it the way I did. *dramatic sigh*

I waited till they got some papers called a 'shot record' (that was the dirty trick last time! they gave me a shot!)- and then Dad and Pa lead me to that funny little place where all the kitties are! I like sitting there- there's chairs, and lots of poeple come by and pet me. They said it wasn't time for 'class' 'yet'... I don't know about that word 'yet'... it's mysterious to me. Like 'not really NO... but not YET...' hmmmm... We sat there till the trainer came and helped Pa put on the new collar-thingy called a 'Gentle Leader'... I kind of didn't like it. It goes around my nose, and I kept thinking, 'that's a stupid place for a COLLAR'... so we spent the time before 'class' (whatever that was, I didn't know!) walking around. Everytime I started to rub it off, Pa would call my name and walk more- I kept getting distracted, darnit! I forgot I was wearing it, exactly... maybe it's not so bad after all.

Then we went into that big blue-screened ring, and the two NICEST people in the WORLD met me! wow... they carry treats, and they say 'yay!' a lot, and 'yes!' and 'Good girl!'... wow, I LOVE them.

Then other people's started to arrive! And other DOGS... I was all curious- I haven't been around many other dogs since I came here, so I was quick to want to say hello just like them! I met a cute little furry poodle cross, who was SO bouncy! He made my head ache just *watching* him bounce! wow... and then a nice couple came with a Boston Terrier and a Bulldog! yay! I loved them- they were great dogs. I had a grand time sniffing and everything!

The trainers had a dog too- she looked like ME! only MUCH smaller... and with a waggy tail. I liked her- I kept going up to sniff and say 'hello, you're the same color as me, did you know that?' and she was all 'yeayea, lemme find a chew toy. I know there's one in this box...' so I came and sat back down. Ah well! so much for socializing!

Then a naughty puppy came. He BARKED, he BOUNCED, he peed on the floor... he was so worked up, they had a terrible time managing him! oh my goodness!

...but you see, I knew a secret- I had figured out what a CLASS was!!

We went to this big blue ring, at a certain time, to LEARN things!! yay!!!

Pa brought lots of treats, and treats make EVERYTHING better.

Pa also learned a trick- they called it the 'Tellington Touch'... and it is a special way of massaging your pet by using your fingers and making a circle and a quarter at a time... Pa started doing that softly... and I MELTED. I just melted into a puddle of happy doggy GOO... OH boy was I ever happy. Even the barking scary little dog didn't matter anymore.

Untill he threatened to eat me.

I hid behind Pa and Dad's chairs.

You know... I don't think it was very nice that they laughed, but I came back out because I figure, if they're laughing, it must not be very serious, huh? Oh well again! hrmf.

We learned some not-quite-new things, like Sit- and we got on our way to knowing each other! That was fun for me- I'm a-scared of LITTLE dogs, but the bigger bulldog and boston were NICE doggies size-wise, and I surely did like 'Mighty Dog' the trainer's helper! I'm thinking, this must be a pretty fun thing, to go to this 'class' thing on weekends, and get all kinds of special time with Pa and Dad is right there too, and I get to meet DOGGIE friends!! YAY!!

It lasted a LITTLE longer than I had attention span, Dad says... but Pa thinks it wasn't so much attention as 'shut down' when the one loud doggie kept threatening me from across the ring. I was a-scared!! So I hid my head in Pa's lap, and we just listened in some more- that was cool. By the end, I was ready to socialize with everyone again! See? All better!

The trainers were very sweet. They said something nice about EVERY doggie... and you know what they said about me? They said "Big Bertha? WOW... there couldn't BE a better name for her! Just look! she's a Big Bertha allright!" I was very happy. yay! I have a good name! (and she said it in that happy tone, so I know it must be a GOOD thing!)

WHEW... I am so tired out now! I'm just going to finish my yogurt lick here (Dad gives me the finished container to lick clean! yummy!) and get a nap. I am one WORN OUT Bertha!

WHEW!

Big Bertha

(oh! Do you see the little PetFinders window at the bottom of the page here? Those are dogs from Happy Tails Rescue! That's where *I* came from!! yay! Some of the doggies there right now were my friends! If you're considering a Rottie, you should consider these Rotties- they're cool people!)