Working Dog

At the end of October I introduced a new family member. She came to us as a 17.5lb black fur ball with the sweetest little tri-colored face. Her official name is Werlwind’s Picture Perfect. How do “they” come up with those names? She was part of the “p” litter thus her official name had to start w/ a “p” to designate what litter she is from. I picked it out, because after all I really did think she looked perfect. My girls picked out her calling name, Miley and yes the Disney super star did have an influence over the choice by my younger daughter (her only claim to being a girl at heart with her very tomboy exterior).

Now 5+ months later our little fur ball is 75lbs and still growing, has a gorgeous coat of shiny wavy fur, big brown eyes and what seems to be a constant smile, Smiley Miley. Since the first week we have been following a morning routine when the girls are with me. Miley wakes me up at 6:00-6:30am to go outside, then breakfast and then she waits for my older daughter to come up to go to school. We go out and she gets in the car, I used to pick her up and put her in back. While driving I could only see a small tuft of fur every once and a while moving about in the back. Now she jumps right in and takes up most of the rear window. She often rests her head along the side window and watches the world go by as we drive to school. She watches my daughter until she is out of sight around the building and then she settles in while we drive home. Once back home she goes in to wake up my younger daughter by leaping up onto the bed and laying ½ way across her, wagging her tail and giving a couple licks. We get ready and when it is time to go I open the closet and grab her leash. Over the last few months the routine has resulted in her new behavior, excited and wagging her tail she waits for me to affix the leash to her collar. I fold it over a few times and she gingerly takes it in her mouth and goes to the front door for our departure. Once out the door she waits until both my daughter and I are walking and she trots a few steps ahead looking back and waiting every few seconds. She holds her head up high and stop at every corner to sit and wait for us when I say “stop”. We used to get about a block this way then I would take her leash and we would do a normal dog walk. Now we are up to 6 blocks until we turn and hit a busy street. Miley trots in front doing what I now understand is her job. She is taking my girls to school this is now what she knows she should do. I honestly believe this to be true because on the way home when it is just the two of us she stops and sniffs, she chases after leaves or follows birds and squirrels as far as the leash will let her and she pulls me a little and looks to me for treats. I am amazed by her, at any other time we go for walks she really acts like any other dog on a leash. But every morning she is waiting to work and she leads the way. When the girls aren’t there I actually see a change in her smile, she is missing a very special part of her day, just like me.