Ch6-Good Dog

CHAPTER SIX Good Dog? Barry dragged Jack out the door of the dining hall into the yard. The air was cold and damp. The sky was gray, and the mountain peaks were shrouded in mist. "Barry, sit!" said Annie. But Barry didn't sit. Instead, he put his nose to the ground and pulled Jack all around the yard. He

smelled the snow and the rock walls. Then he raised his head and closed his eyes, sniffing the air. What does he smell? Jack wondered. Jack couldn't smell anything in the cold mountain air. Annie ran to Jack and Barry and scratched Barry behind his ear. "Come on, Barry! Let's get to work!" she said with enthusiasm. The big dog opened his eyes and wagged his tail. His whole body seemed to be wagging. "Now, Barry, to start with, you have to learn three commands," Annie said. "Come, sit, and stay." Barry sneezed as if to say, No problem! Annie turned to Jack. "When he obeys a command, we give him lots of praise. We should act really positive and upbeat. That's what my book said." Jack rolled his eyes. "Positive," Annie repeated. "Upbeat. Let's start with come. I'll hold him. You walk away and then stop and say, 'Come, Barry!'" Jack sighed and handed Annie the leash. She struggled to keep Barry with her as Jack walked

about twenty feet away. Jack turned and said, "Come, Barry!" Annie let go of the leash. Barry charged toward Jack. When he reached him, he jumped up and put his paws on Jack's shoulders. Jack fell backward into the snow. "Oww!" said Jack.

"Good dog!" Annie said, clapping. Barry leaned over and slurped his tongue across Jack's face and ears. "Yuck! Stop, stop!" said Jack. He scrambled to his feet before Barry could give him more sloppy kisses. Annie ran over and patted Barry as she repeated, "Good dog, good dog." Barry's eyes were bright and happy. He panted with short quick breaths, as if he were laughing. "Good dog?" said Jack. "You've got to be kidding." "Yes! He did what you said! You said 'come,' and he came!" said Annie. "Come on, Jack. Positive! Upbeat!" "Oh, sorry," said Jack, wiping his ears with his sleeve. "I love your slobber, Barry. It's my favorite thing." "Okay, say that all over again, but use a happy voice," said Annie. "Don't be ridiculous," said Jack. "Come on, let's move along." "Right," said Annie. "I think he's got come. Here, take the leash back, and we'll do sit. Ready,

Barry? Sit!" Annie pushed down on Barry's rear end, and Barry sat. "Good dog!" Annie said. "Now pull the leash up, Jack, so he lifts his head." Jack tugged on the leash, pulling Barry's head up. The Saint Bernard looked into Jack's eyes. Then he leapt up and licked Jack's face with his huge pink tongue. Jack yelped and fell backward again into the snow. Before Barry could pounce on him, Jack scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping on his robe. "Oh, man!" he said to Barry. "What is wrong with you?" "Nothing's wrong with him, Jack," said Annie. "He just likes you!" "Well, tell him not to like me so much," said Jack. "Come on, Jack. Be positive," Annie said. "No. I'm done with training," said Jack. "You can do it by yourself. I'm going inside to read about flora and fauna in our research book." "But it's easier with two of us," said Annie. "Just one more command? Please?"

Annie looked hopefully at Jack. Barry looked at Jack, too. His tail had stopped wagging. "Oh, okay," said Jack, sighing. "One more command." "Yay, thanks!" said Annie. Barry barked and wagged his tail. "Let's try the stay command," said Annie. "We'll teach Barry to go down on all fours and stay—like all the dogs in the dining hall this morning." "He'll never be that calm," said Jack. Annie handed him the leash. "Here. Now try to gently pull Barry's head down while I press between his shoulder blades. See, I memorized all this stuff. Okay, Jack?" "Yeah, yeah," Jack said. He knelt in front of Barry and gently pulled down on the leash. Annie pushed Barry's shoulders with the palms of her hands. Barry didn't move. "I can't find his shoulder blades," said Annie. "Try this, Jack. Pull on his front legs. Pull them out in front of him." Jack grabbed Barry's forelegs and pulled. Barry jumped up and put his paws on Jack's shoulders again, knocking him into the snow for the third