Dear Hooman,

I do not quite understand most things that happen in your two legged world, however, I am able to recognize the warning signs of you going away.

Those big bags with handles that are fun to sit in but somehow you think are better to put your clothes in fill up and line the halls of our house. Mom and Dad start to smell different, some sort of mix of pride and sadness, and you start to smell like excitement.

I may not understand all the words in the complicated language that you speak, but I did hear you say, "I'll miss you" when you hugged me before bed last night.

Although I keep track of time differently than you, I can tell the difference between you being away for a little and a long time. I start to worry a bit when you're gone. Mom and Dad are able to keep up feeding me, and although the food is always the same, they do not play the same way you do.

You have always given me the best cuddles in the house, you can find my favorite scratching places, and no one else sneaks as much of the good food off the table as you.

I find comfort in your smell around the house, I like to lay in your bed, and there are always still squirrels that need to be cleared from the backyard, so I stay busy, anyway.

I know the next time I see you we both will be older. We grew up together and I cherish the moments I can remember of you taking me to the lake, letting me chase the ball, and defending my honor that one time a goose almost ate me (I do not like the geese).

You are a big part of the reason I am a happy dog, and my tail wags around you much more uncontrollably than around any other hooman.

I don't know if you notice it or not, but I am getting more tired and having to adjust to a different energy level than I used to have.

I do not think I am a puppy anymore.

With that said, though, I love my life and am able to enjoy every part of it. When you are gone, I find joy in the little things, and the thought of your return makes my tail wag again. I know I am your best friend, and I hope that the time you spend away from me you are able to enjoy what you, learn, do and see, too.

All the tricks you are being taught I am sure will be useful someday; just like how I learned not to pee in the house and to give you my paw when I sit for some extra food and rubs.

I am proud to have helped you grow up, hooman.

I hope your tail wags too when you think of me, and I know that we will be together really soon. We will be back to our nightly snuggles, playing with the ball (sometimes in the house even if it does drive mom crazy), and I will get to smell all the new places you have been.

I too will miss you, hooman. But, I know the next time I see you it will be like no time has passed at all.

Because that's how we are, we are best friends.

Love,

Doge

P.S. I will still terrorize the cats.