Keke’s Guide to Training Your Human

Taking Time to Appreciate the Big Things in Life

Lesson 17: Pausing to take stock of our human subjects

As a puppy, I spend much of my life dwelling on the little things: the smell of grass still moist from Flash’s pee, the sight of a gecko’s neck bulge only moments before I lunge and send him scurrying across the patio, my first taste of ice cream.

But sometimes, it’s important to pause and take stock of the big things: my humans. Aside from those delightfully smelly socks and chewy laces, they give me love and encouragement, they play “mouse chase” with me until that poor rodent can take no more, and they let me lick their faces until they dive, giggling like five-year-olds, under the covers.

As I’ve gotten out more to explore the world, I’ve realized that they gave me a nice, safe place to live with (mostly) friendly neighbors. (I wonder about Teddy, the pugnacious chihuahua next door. He’s said some mean things, but it’s probably all bluster.)

I’ve also gotten to know the humans around here — some smell like a fresh daisy, and others like a flattened stink bug. And don’t even get me started on their breath. And I know it’s hard to believe, but a couple of them have walked past me without even acknowledging how cute I am. I mean, what’s that about?

Inconceivable. Absolutely, totally, and, in all other ways, inconceivable.

I spend a lot of time making fun of my humans in this blog, but I have to say I found a pretty good set. And just because the smell of their hair makes me sneeze doesn’t mean I will stop chewing it. Or their shoes. I think I’ll keep them. The humans, I mean, not the shoes.

Oh, heck, I’ll keep them both.