Time

Woof. woof. What is time? You are here or you are not in sight. We are sheepdogs and we have to keep track of everything that moves, especially you.

We both sleep a lot in between keeping track of you. You wear us out.

In the morning, when you are in sight, Biscuit and I chase each other around the house and bark and run. Sometimes, when you’re not looking, I steal your little pink stripey things from the laundry room and trot around in front of you until you chase me and I drop them at your feet. When you say in a loud voice, “Hand them to me!” I have to pick them up again and wait until you take them from my mouth. When you get tired of this game, and we have barked a lot, you let Biscuit and me out on the deck. Biscuit wants to stay outside longer than I do. After a few minutes outside, I give my two-bark alert to tell you I want to come in. You open the door and I prance in. I am a beautiful prancer. Quick, funny and smart. Biscuit stays outside. Because I need you and want to be with you, I follow you all over the house. Everywhere. No exceptions.

When you are leaving and will not be in sight, you let me know you are coming back by playing beautiful music on the black machine, where Biscuit and I rest and wait for you to come back to us. We usually go to sleep by the door. I snore and Biscuit goes to sleep. When you come back through your magic door where you keep your car, you find our leashes and take us for another yummy, smelly walk. Sometimes you go by the dead-rodent-scattered eagles’ next, which makes our noses twitch. Sometimes we go by a big squirrels’ nest where Biscuit looks up until he either sees the squirrels and tries to jump up the tree or he doesn’t see the squirrels because they are sleeping in their leafy nest.

We know the time when:

a. we wake up and need to go for a walk (6:30 a.m.)

b. it’s time for our kibble and salmon oil (after our first walk (7:30 a.m.)

c. it’s time for our second walk (10 a.m. )

d. we are hungry again (4:30 pm)

e. we are sleepy and want one last breath of fresh air (8:30 pm)

f. we jump on your bed for awhile until you come to bed (9 pm)

c. it’s time to get up again (7 am)

Every time is our time!

Advice from Oliver: Every time can be your time too.