Training with Wolfie - Chapter 18 – Part 1 of 2

Training with Wolfie

By Karen Singer

Chapter 18 – Part 1 of 2

     “Bobo!  Catch!”

     Bobo watched desperately as Rosa tossed a piece of popcorn in his direction.  He opened his mouth and made a small movement to reach it in the air, but he missed.  He quickly scrambled after it.

      “No!  Bobo!  No!” Rosa said.  “Leave it there.”

     Before Bobo could turn and figure out what was going on, Wolf had snatched the small treat up and it was gone.  He turned back to look at Rosa and Connie sitting side by side on the couch together, holding a big bowl of popcorn between them.  It was after dinner, and Rosa hadn’t fed either him or Wolf yet.  Instead, he had to sit there and smell the popcorn that Rosa had made.  He was hungry.  Hungrier now smelling the popcorn than he had been before she had made it.  Why didn’t they feed him?

      “Try it again Bobo,” Rosa said with a laugh as she stuck a piece of popcorn in her own mouth.

     Bobo waited tensely, watching her hand as it pulled back a little, the tiny piece of popcorn in it was all he was interested in.  She threw it at him.  His eyes tracked it as it flew through the air.  Halfway between him and Rosa, a large furry body came out of nowhere and snatched it up.

      “Wolf!  No!” Rosa complained.  “You can have everything that Bobo drops, but don’t go trying to catch what I throw.”  She picked up another piece of popcorn and was about to throw it.

      “Wait!” Connie said quickly.  She got up from the couch and went over to Wolf.  “I don’t believe I’m doing this,” she said as she grabbed his collar.  “Sit!” she ordered.  Wolf sat, but his eyes never left the piece of popcorn that Rosa was holding.  He was poised and ready to strike as soon as it left her hand.  Connie moved in front of him and kept a hold on his collar.  “Okay.  I think I’ve got him now.”

     Rose threw the piece of popcorn at Bobo.  Wolf started to go after it but Connie brought him up short.  As hard as Bobo tried to catch it, it bounced off his forehead.  He tried to go after it again.  “No Bobo!” Rosa ordered.  “You don’t get any of the ones you miss.  Connie, let Wolf get that one.”

     Connie released Wolf who bounded quickly after the tiny treat.  It was gone in an instant.  Connie had to hold Wolf three more times before he finally caught on that he could get everything as soon as it hit the ground.  So far, Wolf was getting all the popcorn.  Bobo had gotten none. 

     It was a long time before Bobo actually managed to get a piece in his mouth.  When he did, he almost didn’t believe it.  He chewed it quickly and swallowed it.  Mmm.  So good.  But his eyes were already watching and waiting for more.  By the time the bowl of popcorn was finished, he had only gotten two pieces that he had managed to catch in his mouth.  Rosa and Connie had eaten some of the bowl, but Wolf had gotten most of it. 

      “Come on guys,” Rosa said as she stood up from the couch with the empty bowl in her hand.  “Let’s get you some dinner.”

     Five minutes later, Bobo was stuck eating dog food again.  Yuck!  But he was starving so he gobbled down even that.

      “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bobo eat dog food that fast,” Connie noted.

      “Me either.  I wonder if she’s starting to like it.”

      “How?”

      “I don’t know.  I have no idea what that stuff tastes like, and I have no intention of finding out.  It smells awful though.”

     If Bobo could have told them, he would have been glad to let them know that it tasted even worse than it smelled.  But hungry was hungry.  And he was hungry!

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      “Bobo.  Fetch!” Connie said as she threw one of Wolfies toys across the room.  Wolf was already laying down “munching” on another of his toys that Connie had thrown. 

     Bobo hated fetch.  He wasn’t sure if Wolf liked the game either.  Of course, Wolf never brought back anything that was thrown to him, not like they made him do. 

      “Go get it!” Rosa ordered when Bobo didn’t move.

     Bobo turned and went after the toy, bending his neck down and doing his best to grab it with his teeth.  Unlike Wolf, they were making sure he brought everything they threw for him to fetch back to them. 

      “Good girl Bobo,” Connie praised as he brought back the stuffed toy.

      “Here Bobo.  Get it,” Rosa said as she quickly threw another one that was all thick pieces of rope attached to a plastic squeaky part in the middle. 

     Bobo started after it.

      “Faster Bobo.  Faster!” Rosa told him.

     Bobo tried to move faster.  The ropes were easier for him to get his mouth around and he picked it up easily and brought it back, most of it dangling out of his mouth. 

     The moment Rosa had taken it again, Connie said, “Here Bobo!” and she threw the other toy for him to fetch.  But this time the moment he turned to go after it, Wolf jumped up and ran to it instead, where he laid right there chewing on it and occasionally producing a squeak from the poor abused toy.  Connie laughed.  “Get his other toy Bobo,” Connie said.

     His other toy?  Bobo had to go over and get the first toy that Wolf had been chewing on.  He reached down with his mouth and grabbed it.  It was soaked from Wolf’s mouth.  Ugh!  He picked the thing up and brought it back to Connie. 

      “Good girl,” Connie praised again.

     Bobo really wished she wouldn’t call him a girl.  Half the time Rosa didn’t even bother with that silly decision.  Sometimes Rosa called him a girl, sometimes she called him a boy.  Not that it mattered.  In all cases, to both of them, he was still just a dog.

      “Here you go Bobo,” Rosa said as she tossed the other toy across the room.  Bobo went after the rope toy and grabbed it again, but halfway back, Wolf showed up and grabbed it too.”

      “Fight him for it Bobo,” Rosa laughed.  “Don’t let him get it.”

     Do what?  She had to be kidding.  Wolf was ten times stronger than he was…especially with his big mouth.  Make that a hundred times stronger!  But he did his best to bite down on the rope and hang on, while Wolf growled playfully and pulled back. 

      “Get it from him,” Connie laughed as she watched the tug of war going on between them.

     If Bobo wasn’t afraid of what Rosa might do to him if he didn’t at least try to hang onto the toy, he would have gladly let go of it the moment Wolf had tried to take it.  But he was afraid of Rosa, so he hung on as best he could…and tried to hold back as Wolf slowly dragged him across the floor.  Wolf suddenly jerked to the side with his head, and Bobo lost his grip on the rope. 

      “Good try Bobo,” Rosa said, still laughing.  “Better luck next time. 

      “Here…catch!” Connie said as she threw the other toy in Bobo’s direction.  She didn’t even come close to where he could try to catch it.  While Wolfie laid down now with the other toy he had just snatched. 

     Bobo went and got the one Connie had thrown.  He had no doubt at all that Connie and Rosa were enjoying this game.  He had no doubt that Wolfie was enjoying it too.  But him?  The jury was still out on that decision.

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     The doorbell rang.  Wolf barked and ran straight to the door. 

      “Wolf!  No!” Rosa yelled sternly.  She hurried to the door.  “Just a minute!” she yelled over top of Wolf’s barking.  “Wolf!  Back!”  She forced herself between Wolf and the door and stood there, watching and waiting.  Wolf finally settled down.  Rosa grabbed his collar and pulled him back to the other side of the room to the spot she usually made him wait.  “Bobo!  Get over here!  You know where you belong when someone comes to the door.”

     Reluctantly, Bobo pulled himself out from between the chairs and went over to sit…like a dog…next to Wolf.  Rosa looked them over.  “Good!  Stay!” she commanded.  Only then did she go back to open the door.

     Wolf growled and stuck his nose out toward the door sniffing furiously, but he didn’t move. 

      “Come in,” Rosa said delightedly.

     Come in?  Bobo fully expected Connie to walk thought the door.  That’s who was usually there when Rosa made him and Wolf sit where they were when someone came to the door.  He wasn’t prepared though to see a man walk in…followed by a woman.  But fortunately, it was the same man and woman that had taken him and Wolf out to “train” in the backyard a few days ago.  Jose and Isabelle.  He suddenly knew that more pain and humiliation awaited him for the next few hours. 

     Without permission, Wolf left his spot and went right up to Jose.  Bobo wanted to run to the bedroom and hide behind the bed.  Not that it would do him any good.  There was no place in the house he could go where they couldn’t easily find him. 

      “Hello Wolf,” Jose said as he reached down and briefly pet the big dog’s head.  He then looked up at Bobo and nodded.  “I see you’re making very good progress with both of them,” Jose noted.

      “Believe it or not!” Rosa exclaimed happily.  “We’ve still got a long way to go though.”

      “Yes, but already there’s been a lot of progress.  I can see that you’ve been practicing a lot with both of them.”

      “Yes,” Rosa replied.  “When I can.”  She laughed.  “To be honest, Connie and I have been having a ball working with Bobo in other ways.”  She laughed.  “Isabelle’s popcorn idea was hilarious!  I’m afraid he’s not very good yet.”

      “Time and practice,” Isabelle replied with a smile.

      “Well, we’ve done that twice now with Bobo.  Every evening we’ve been trying to play games with them, especially Bobo, trying to work on getting her more used to using her mouth.  It’s been so much fun.”

      “Very good,” Jose said, pleased to hear it.  “And how about walking them?”

      “Only a little in the backyard,” I’m afraid.  “It’s getting hot out there.”

      “You need to do it every day with them.  Both of them,” Jose said.  “I think you’ll find it will bring you closer to both of your pets if you do.”

      “I’ll try,” Rosa said.  “But I think the biggest thing so far is that Wolf is starting to calm down a bit when someone comes to the door.  He’s still got a long way to go, but I’m seeing progress now.”

      “Very good,” Jose said, pleased to hear that as well.  “Remember, practice and consistency are the keys.  You can’t let him get away with anything!”

      “So far, I think I’m doing pretty good with him.”

      “Wonderful.  Why don’t we all go out back.  Let’s get some of the energy out of them first.”

     The three humans slowly walked through the living room and into the kitchen, Wolf followed right along with them.  Bobo held back.  He already knew what awaited him outside, and he wasn’t the least bit interested.

      “Bobo!  Come!” Rosa’s voice pierced the air.  “Outside!”

     Ugh!  Bobo followed them all out to the back porch.  The ramp was still set where it had been from the last time they had been there.  The bar had fallen off of the hurdle and was lying on the ground.  Since that day, both he and Wolfie had completely ignored both pieces of equipment.  About the only “training” Rosa had done with them outside, was to walk briefly around the yard on those darn leashes with the chain that went around their necks.  Why had Jose and Isabelle left them behind?  What a pain – literally!