Dogs, much like kids, watch and listen to everything you do and say in front of them.
I’ve been taking the “Dawgs,” “Tommy and Otis,” out for drives for a good while now.
Each time I walk outside, they watch me go to my truck.
They watch what I do while I’m in my truck. Watch to see if I’m rearranging things to make room for them.
They listen for the “Clink, Clink” sounds of the Seatbelts I have for them.
And, if I do everything just right, they know they’re going for a ride. Especially when I walk toward the pen.
Tommy begins hopping up and down like a rabbit, and Otis runs around in circles.
I then lift the latch to the pen and let them out.
I say, “Go Quick,” so they’ll relieve themselves before going on the ride.
I also make sure to say the word “Ride” often so they will associate the word “Ride” with going for a ride.
Today, I walked out of the garage and headed toward my truck.
I could feel Tommy and Otis watching and listening.
I opened the Passenger Side Door and began putting trash inside a trash bag to make room for Tommy.
I got the seatbelts out for them and set them to the side. They “Clinked Clinked” as I set them aside.
Typically, I would now go to the pen, open the latch, and let them out.
Today, however, I had forgotten to grab a Diet Coke and Regular Coke to take with me. So, I went back inside to get two Cokes.
When I came out, I walked to the truck to put my Cokes in the Cup Holder.
I then turned to walk to the pen to let “The Dawgs” out.
I was taking way too long for Tommy, though; he had had enough.
He uses his nose to push the latch up on the pen door, opens the door, and runs out. Otis follows behind.
The other two dogs stay inside the pen.
I giggle, shut the pen door, and say, “Go Quick.”
Afterward, I say, “Let’s go for a ride,” and they hop in the truck.
Like I said, dogs, much like kids, watch and listen to everything you do and say in front of them.
It was a good ride.
