AA #10 – I Am Very Smart

At 16 weeks old, Agatha is growing fast. The tiny puppy who first came home at just seven weeks is getting taller, longer, and fluffier by the week—and she is looking less like a little baby puppy every day.

My daddy person disappeared.

He did not disappear forever. I know that now. But I did not know that when it happened. He was here, and then he was not here, and I kept looking for him. I checked places. I listened for him. I followed my mommy person around and asked her about it in all the puppy ways I know how to ask things.

Apparently, I asked a lot.

Daddy Person was gone all week. That is a very long time when you are a puppy. Then, finally, he came home, and I was very, very happy. Daddy Person was back where Daddy Person belongs, and everything made sense again.

Mostly.

I learned something else while he was gone. Green beans are food.

They grow outside on plants. I know this because I found them. The people have been growing lots of things outside, and I have been investigating because investigating is one of my jobs. Green beans are good, but the best part is that I discovered I do not have to wait for a person to give me one. I can walk right up to the plant, find a green bean, and pick it all by myself.

This is very useful information. People grow puppy snacks outside, and I am surprised nobody explained this sooner.

I also went back to puppy school this week. I missed puppy school last week, but I remembered everything. Maybe even more than everything.

I was very good. Actually, I was the best dog in the whole class.

The teacher kept telling my people how smart I am. I already suspected this.

We practiced all my old things: Focus, Come Touch, Sit, Give It, Leave It, Walk, and Wait. Some of them are easier than others. Focus is still hard because there are things everywhere. Things move. Things smell. Things need looking at. But I am getting better.

Then we learned new things.

Lay means I put my whole puppy down on the floor. Down does not mean lay down. Down means I am not supposed to jump on people. People really should have picked words that are not so close together.

I also learned Walk with Focus. I walk with my person, but I am supposed to keep checking to make sure the person is still there. They usually are, but I check anyway. Then there is Walk & Sit. We walk, and when my person stops, I sit.

People have a lot of rules about what my butt is supposed to be doing.

But the most important new word is Christy.

Christy is a VERY good word. When my person says, “Christy!” I am supposed to come right away. Not eventually. Not after I smell something. Not after I finish whatever very important puppy business I am doing. Right away.

And when I do, I get really, really good treats.

I do not know why the people saved the best treats for Christy. I also do not care. I am excellent at Christy.

The teacher kept saying I was smart, and my people looked happy. I like when my people look happy because of something I did.

Charlie did not have as good a week.

Charlie has always been slow compared to me, but now he seems slower. I think his eyes are getting worse too. Sometimes Charlie does not see things, and I have been noticing that more and more.

I used to think Charlie was just bad at being a dog because he did not chase things and bounce around and investigate everything.

Now I think maybe Charlie cannot.

This week he got sick too. He did not feel good, and even though Charlie likes to sleep a lot anyway, this was different. He was quieter. Slower. He just did not seem like Charlie.

I watched him.

Usually I want to bother Charlie. Sometimes I want to bump him. Sometimes I want to make him move. There is something inside me that says Charlie should go this way, and I should help him go this way, even when Charlie very clearly does not want my help.

But when he did not feel good, I looked at him and did not bother him as much.

I do not know why.

Maybe I am learning something that they do not teach at puppy school.

Daddy Person came home. Green beans grow outside. Christy makes wonderful treats happen. My people say I am very smart, and I know more things than I used to.

But Charlie is getting slower, and I do not know what to do about that.

Maybe being smart does not mean you know everything.

I am still a puppy.

I am learning.