The Next Dark Age
We're in it Now
Barkey McBarkenstein
We are serious about training this dog well, so we had a trainer come to our house. More on that later. But I’ll give you this bit – the trainer is convinced Gibbs has some terrier. Now, this shouldn’t bother me, because he is clearly a WonderMutt. But I am ashamed to tell you that I actually cringed. Because I think of terriers as bossy little barkers.
(sigh).
We didn’t get to the nuisance barking. However, I did get the lesson about, “If the dog doesn’t show you some respect, he doesn’t get to hang out in your bed.”
(See how well I set up that joke? I don’t even need to finish it!)
So while I was playing with my new little camera, I could see he was getting impatient. He barked. I commanded, “Quiet.”
He didn’t like that:
I made growly noise in his face. And got this. And barking in my face:
And he lost his bed privileges. So that’s how we’re playing it now. Until Lesson Two when I learn a better way.
My book club met him yesterday. Gibbs was afraid of Eric – Mr. 6’4 with the long hair. Shadow was also afraid of Eric. But otherwise, I give us a B- for handling the doorbell and opening the door and greeting guests.
But oh, the barking. We have a long way to go. I had forgotten how hard puppies are. My friend Nyla said that Puppy Amnesia is the same as Baby Amnesia.
So. True.
The Next Dark Age 
Aw I would have a hard time training a dog as cute as that. I probably would be one of those people who lets their dog walk all over them.
You say that because you haven't heard him barking!