This Is Only a Test

[Betsy D.]

My daughter, Emily is beside herself with excitement! My mother has gone out of town for the weekend and has left her standard poodle, Brulee with us. She is only with us for 3 days/ 2 nights, but I am sure that my mother is trying to get the children prepared for bringing Cimmy home in 3 weeks. Emily constantly says, "I love Brulee." She is napping on the couch and pouted a lot when I wouldn't let Brulee onto the couch to nap with her. Brulee is napping too, however, she is about 4 feet away on the much cooler hardwood floor.

For the most part Emily has been very good. She is picking up things that drop on the floor. She was the one to realize that Brulee was hungry for her lunch. I wasn't thinking about her eating 3 times a day! And Emily loves to take her outside. She laughs at Brulee's antics as she bounds around the yard!

We did have a wake up call when I realized that Brulee was being very quite. I walked into the dining room to see her licking her lips and walking away from a fast food hamburger wrapper.The cheese burger, Emily's lunch, was gone as was about 1/4 of the wrapper. (Should I be concerned about the tiny little chopped up onions that were on the burger?)
Emily was very puzzled and asked why Brulee ate her lunch. This was the first lesson, hopefully learned, about keeping food out of reach!!! I thought I was being sooo good with other food. I missed the burger!

Of course, this is only a test and an easy one at that. The boys will come home from school and I will have to remind them about the food thing and about remembering to close the doors and to not let Bru outside. Brulee is 3 years old and is the best behaved and smartest dog my mother has ever had, so it is easy!!! Right? Nothing like a puppy, at least! As I said, This Is Only a Test!

[Nancy Evers]

Love the pic of Em and Bru... You should make a copy for Mom...

[Kai Doodle (Kathy & Keith)]

This is a great picture! Enjoy your test puppy. ;-)

[Margaret Erwin]

What a great picture! Do you have a fence or are you going to put in an invisible fence? With three children I don't know how you will be able to keep Cimmy from getting out. I had a fence for our pyrenees Sadie and Harry and Ella adjusted to the it very easily. I would not do without it

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

I love this photo! If Emily is doing so well with Brulee, she will be fantastic with Cimmy. Believe me, this test is only the beginning! The things I learned from having a puppy... You should have heard me the first time I called the vet in a panic. "I dropped a dryer sheet on the floor and Penny ate it! Help!" Having Cimmy will be a great learning experience for the whole family!

[Susan]

This ia beautiful photo! The kids are learning a great lesson this weekend! :)

[Deena Womack]

What a great picture and what a great time for Emily and the boys!!

[Michele Barton]

What a great picture Betsy! You reminded me of when my kids were small, and we returned home after church one Easter and our golden retriever had eaten everything out of their Easter baskets, grass and all! And lots of chocolate, but she was fine. A few weeks later we found the undigested grass behind the shed in the yard. I swear that girl had a cast iron stomach. Needless to say, my children were not too happy. They still remember it.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Great way to prepare everyone for Cimmy. You'll see how involved the kids will be come feeding and walking time.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

The picture of Emily and Brulee is ust gorgeous!
Learning on a 3 year old - great experience for all of you. Since she is so well behaved you (and the kids) will see what it is like to have a well trained pup around and the end result of all that hard work you all will be doing in just a few weeks.
Emily (and you) will never forget not to leave food within reach of a dog! As you said this is only a test. I am sure you all will get an A+!
The boys will have a fantastic time this weekend playing with her. Are they allowed to take Brulee on her walk's? They will get a fast lesson in big dog poop pickup! LOL!!!!!
I would love to see a picture of their faces when they have to do the pick up - priceless photo op!