puppy is for life....

(with due credit to the NCDL, whose slogan I've adapted!)
by Nottsbess from Meadowpark (Bess)

On reflection, 1990 was a funny old year. The changes started a short while before, when we went on our weekly visit to DebnDave's and there was a sort of basket in the room that I hadn't seen before. Mum let me have a look, and there inside was a little wriggly sort of pink creature with no fur - Dad said it was a Rachel-puppy. It smelt different, a bit like Mum when she gets out of the bath - all talc and soap - and a lot like milk. Sometimes there were other, more interesting smells, but I wasn't allowed to investigate them. Mind you, it wasn't much of a human, couldn't talk at all but, my whiskers, could it howl! At first that upset me, I would only make that noise if I were thoroughly miserable, but Mum didn't seem to be too bothered, in fact she only smiled and said, 'It's all right' when I came to see what was wrong - I suppose she knew best. It seemed to be quite bright, though, it knew exactly how to get everyone's undivided attention without any effort.

After a bit they started putting the Rachel-puppy on the floor to play. It was about then that I discovered that, if I went and stared hard at it, it would look pleased and wave its legs at me - sometimes I got a smart rap on the nose, but it was rather gratifying to know that I could make it smile. At least, if it got too grabby, Mum would make it let go, and I could go into the hall out of its way.

Then Mum disappeared for a few days holiday at a place called Hospital, and I got to go and stay with DebnDave. It was nice to be with my pals, Raff and Gypsy, but I did find it a bit noisier than home; people-puppies are far more trouble than I ever was, I'm sure - my pals agree, but they have to be careful what they say; they have to live there!

One day, after Mum had come back, and DebnDave were visiting, I had done my fair share of baby-smiling and had gone out into the hall for a well-earned rest. Suddenly there was a sort of thumping noise heading my way, I turned my head to look, and there - to my horror - the Rachel-puppy was advancing towards me on all four legs, making a bubbly sort of noise. Mum says that's when I developed my 'haunted look', whatever that is; but, can you imagine it? Is nowhere sacred?

About this time it was taught the command 'pat, pat'; this was much better than the grabby bit, but needed directing to places more suitable than the end of my nose.

From then on things progressed rapidly, for better and worse. The Rachel-puppy learned to walk about on its hind legs like Mum, only not as steady. It has also started to make people noises - I'm not sure about most of them, but Mum seems to understand. I can just about recognise 'Raraff' (that's my pal), a sort of sneeze that I think means Bess, and 'dogog' which is all of us. Perhaps it'll improve with age - I hope so, or it'll never make its way in the world. We could talk from a very early age - aren't people slow? It even pronounces 'Mum' as 'Nanna'.

There's really nowhere to escape it now, it can even climb stairs; and I wish it wouldn't bury its fingers in my fur to try and pull itself up, or wag my tail for me, I know it's nice and plumy, but I can do it myself. However, I quite like the attention I get now after it has been told to 'be gentle' - a sort of soft patting and tickling, and sometimes a big cuddle with a soft little head on my shoulder and little arms round my neck. I can make it giggle too, when I lick its fingers, usually when there's chocolate there. It likes to join in our play wrestling as well, although it does fall over very easily; Mum tends to grab it out from under, though it doesn't always want to go, and none of us would hurt it intentionally - even though it did try to bite me on the nose the other day. Or maybe that was what Mum calls a kiss. It's getting very generous too, shares its dinner, and chocky biscuits - though some spoil-sports try to stop that.

Life has changed a lot since the Rachel-puppy came, and even though it doesn't live with us all the time, I think it's here to stay. Sometimes it comes to us for a bit, and everyone laughs a lot and seems happy - maybe that's the bonus that people-puppies bring with them. I know that if it goes on improving as it has done for the last few months, I wouldn't mind having one of our own - Mum says 'No chance' - I wonder why!

January 1991

Home - Authors - Index - Previous story (Jan 89) - Next story (Jan 92) - Links - Bernese Books

Other dog shopping - Awards - Old Guest Book - New Guest Book - Contact - Webrings