Advice

Dear Max,

I did not think it would be possible to miss you, but I do. Maybe not as much as the puppy called Toni. She ran round and round searching for you upon our return from the trip that took you to Gavin. She is still learning things .......... like you. But she has three older dogs to teach her. You only have people. People are good. They take care of you and feed you and keep you clean and safe. But, another dog to show you the ropes is priceless. I heard that on TV. The priceless thing. I have been waiting ever so long to use it.

I am lucky. I had Oscar and Emmy to teach me things. Oscar says that when he came to live with Gramma there were already dogs in her house. A Collie, named Sarge, and a Saint Bernard, named Louise. He said that Sarge taught him lots of stuff. Sarge was wise and he was a good dog, too. He was Gramma's dog. He showed Oscar how to behave. Louise did, too. Mostly she showed him how not to behave! She was in trouble ......... a lot!

Oscar gets in trouble, too. Sometimes he thinks Gramma doesn't pay enough attention to us dogs and he will act very bad to get Gramma's attention. This is not the kind of attention you want. Gramma tells Oscar that it is a good thing she loves him, or he might find himself at the dog pound. The dog pound ..... are you wondering what that is? Well, it is not good to be at the dog pound. That is where Papa got the puppy called Toni.

This is where dogs and puppies without homes go. Toni told us other dogs here that you have to live in a kennel and people come through and look at you. She said the lucky ones get to go home with people. She is one of the lucky ones. She got to come live here with Gramma and Papa and us other dogs. I think you should know that you are lucky, too. The lady who gave you to Gramma was headed for the pound with you and all your brother and sister dogs!!

Gramma was just going to take a little peek at you and your litter mates. She had absolutely no intention of getting another dog. She said that four dogs is her limit. But, she saw you. She said she scooped you up into her hand and then she called Papa and told him to come to the store. Papa said he was busy and did not want to look at puppies. He said, "No way are we getting another dog!!" Gramma told him to hush and high-tail it to the front of the building before she came to get him. He did and when he saw you, he looked at Gramma and she looked at him and they both said Gavin at the same time. Gavin is your boy.

Gavin was my boy first. That will be your very first lesson. I was Gavin's first dog. You need to remember that. I was number one. Boys never forget their first dog. Gramma says so. Really. It has been my experience that Gramma knows things. A lot of things. That will be lesson number two. Gramma knows everything. I am not sure just how old she is, but she has lived a long, long time. Oh, and I think you should know that Gavin's mom, the one who no doubt feeds you .... she is Gramma's daughter. She is not nearly as wise as Gramma, but I have heard Gramma say that she is a force to be reckoned with. This means that you have to do what she tells you ..... or else there will be dire consequences. Dire means not so good.

So, this letter is to let you know that I will be writing from time to time to give you advice and help you learn to be the kind of dog my boy deserves. You might be wondering why I just didn't go live with my boy. It is a long story and I will share it with you in my next letter. Until then, just remember that a wagging tail and a cute trick will get you out of most situations.

Your faithful teacher dog, Wall-E