I recently got the chance to live with four different dogs at the same time. I grew up with my family's two dogs (Stoops and Skittles) and when my grandma left town she gave us her two dogs (Rita and Pipa) to take care of. While living with these dogs, I realized that they each had a totally unique personality. I started to create stories for each dog and I imagined what it would be like to live in their paws.
4:30 a.m.
Rita
"Well, I think that she has had enough sleep. Yeah, it is definitely time to get up, plus she has to get her lazy butt up and let me out so I can do my business. I could always teach her a lesson and do it on her, but then she probably wouldn’t pet me all day and that would be terrible. Well, I'd better wake her up. Oh good, the other dogs joined in. She will definitely get up now. Why is she grumpy? I just told her that I love her. She is strange. Yay! She's taking us outside! Wait, she expects me to walk on that green stuff? She has clearly lost her mind. I will ruin my freshly cleaned fur. She must carry me into the green stuff. Finally, we can go back inside now. What is she doing? I think she forgot about my freshly cleaned fur. Pick me up."
Stoops
"Why is Rita awake? She said to sleep, so I must sleep. Oh, wake up? Did Rita say wake up? Well, Owner is asleep and we better wake her up. Wake up! Uh oh, she isn’t happy. I’m sorry, Owner. I’ll lick you and make it all better. Here, let me give you tons of kisses all over. Oh, are we going outside? I like outside. Maybe she will throw me the ball? I found the ball! Hey, Owner, will you throw the ball? Why won’t she throw the ball? Oh, we are going back inside now? I thought that it was playtime. I guess not."
Pipa
Sister said that we need to wake the owner up and I love sister, so I will wake her up. Wake up! Oh, goodie, she is up and now sister will love me forever. Sister, did I do good? Oh, you love the owner? OK, well I guess it is good that we get to go outside. I don’t want to have an accident and embarrass myself in front of sister. Why won’t sister get on the green stuff? It is only slightly weird. I actually kinda enjoy it. I like how it tickles my paws. Oh, we are going back in. OK, whoops I forgot to go to the bathroom. I guess I will do it in the owner's room to show her I love her.
Skittles
"Why won’t these dogs ever shut up? I swear that I can never sleep or do anything without one of them barking their heads off. They are so annoying. The owner wonders why I hate other dogs? Well, I will tell you why. It's because they all talk way too much, never leave you alone, and some of the time they try to hump you. I am not into the humping. I've been there, done that, and look what happened. I got Stoops. Not that I don’t love my son, but that, my friends, is why I don’t trust other dogs. Oh, we are going outside at this hour? You have to be kidding me! Well, I guess I could go to the bathroom, but first I must get far enough from them. What is that awful beeping noise? This dang collar, I forgot that they put this torture device on me. Run away from the flag. OK, I think I am safe. I am so done with all these dogs and this collar. What’s next, a cat?"
