Curiosity

Pepper has been with us for a little over a month now and sometimes I am so curious about what she thinks. It's impossible not to wonder what her story was before I met her and I can't help but wonder how it compares to the life she has now. Is she happy? Is this better? What does she need?

I am amazed by how well she fits in here. She and Pickle make this really cool team and I keep discovering new ways that's true. Just the other night I noticed that, though Pickle won't share his Kongs, he will let Pepper follow along and lick up his crumbs. Writing that now, I realize that it doesn't sound all that great - though it really cuts down on my vacuuming. Pepper gets his measly crumbs - big whoop.  But it serves as a good hour of entertainment for the both of them, so I think it's a semi-fair deal.

We are still figuring out which one of them is the alpha, and sometimes I wonder if it's even necessary to know. But I think it is. I can tell the difference when a dog respects you - human or canine - and when he doesn't. I have the same philosophy with them that I have with my classes - I don't rule with fear. Instead, with the dogs and sometimes with the students, I use what wise parents everywhere have used. I get disappointed in them. They hate that!

(They aren't in trouble here, just tired from playing tackle)



Things are going well. For me. For Pickle. And I think for Pepper too. I just wish she could let me know.