Bonnie The Dog

Hey, I’m Bonnie and I am a border collie. I’m supposedly smarter that most people know. I have been favorably compared to Presidents and Senators and other notable people of authority. My owners have repeatedly asked if I should do their jobs and I seem so sensible and wise. I think I could do their jobs better than they can with my friendliness and wise decisions.

Most people ask if I’m good at herding. I suppose they mean herding sheep because that is what most border collies do, some to more effect than others. I like keeping my family together and when mama or papa wander off. I keep a watch on where they go and also if the other would wander off as well. It’s a tricky job and it has taken most of my ten years for me to hone my job to a fine art. I am happiest when all three of us can be together. We don’t have to be doing anything, just being together.

I like to be on my own in the car whether it is already moving or just waiting for a driver.. At least I have them trained to keep me safe. The car is really my favorite. When the back door of the car is opened I rush out to the garage or where the car is parked. I jump into the back seat, which is mine by many years of use.

I have been supplied with a number of comforts to keep me happy wherever I am. At least they think that they keep me happy. There is a seat cover to keep my muddy paws off theseat. On top of that there is a blanket which is often used to clean my feet if I have been out in wet grass or mud. On top of these is a soft and cozy blanket. I don’t’ need all of these. When I jump into the car I remake the covers into what I think is a more comfortable arrangement. They want me to lie down and show that I am enjoying my dismade bed. I seldom lie down as I watch the countryside slide past the windows of the car.

I squeal at other cars like I am counting them and if a big truck rolls past it deserves a good loud bark so they will know what has happened. When I was much younger they discouraged me from making noise with a small bottle of water that they could squeeze and send a shower of water over my face. When I see one of them point to the armrest under which the bottle is stored, I know to shut up, and I slink off to my side of the car and hang my head. They think that I am ashamed and I watch the empty road looking for a big truck. When I see one I forget my trained behavior and restart making noise which they don’t want.

After dinner my papa washes the dishes and I retire to my sofa. Mama comes and joins me on the sofa and she starts to talk with me. I sit up and look at her face. She talks softly to me and I sit and listen to all she says. When she uses some of the words I recognize I tilt my head to one side and cock up my ears. When she says “going to” I think that might mean a trip in the car. I also recognize the supermarket and hardware store as these are places to which we go frequently. I also recognize various meals I get and I cock my ears hoping to hear more about them and when she gives them to me. I am particularly interested in fish. I watch her lips as she talks to me and I take everything in, if only I could reply in her language so we can have a full and meaningful conversation.

When I’m not in the car I am usually in the house which I share with my parents, I have my own sofa with cushions and my ”little friends”. They are usually squeaky when I bite them in a friendly way. Often I stretch out my legs and knock the smallest “friend” off the sofa on to the floor. They think that this is an accident; They pick it up, pet it, and make friendly noises for it before placing it back in the corner of the sofa. If I just cuddle up with the gang and we all stare out at the room except perhaps for the soft toy which I use as a pillow.

If I am particularly well settled in my leisure. my Moma says “We should brush her teeth and her coat”. I do not like having someone brush my teeth so, at the suggestion I try to slip away but a firm hand on my neck, tells me if it is that time and I should make the best of it. It is different when they want to brush my coat. I like having my coat brushed and there is no resistance to this.

My parents are particularly interested to have in their friends over for a singing session. Mostly they are singers and musicians and everyone has the opportunity to sing a song or play a tune. I greet them all as they are my friends now. I seldom join in and I usually lie down and listen to the music. If it does get a bit monotonous I go upstairs and lie in their bedroom. One evening there were the usual opportunities where everyone can sing and I retired up to my parents bedroom. I lie there listening to the singing and I doze in comfort. Suddenly I awoke and was very aware that my popa was singing his favorite Irish song. I jumped to my feet and rushed down the stairs and came and joined him as I knew this song quite well. I sat in front of him and joined in enthusiastically. The room laughed to see my popa and me singing. Afterwards people were complimenting us on finding the right key and using it. I wasn’t sure if they were pleasantly surprised that we both knew the tune but they all joined in with applause and compliments and laughter

Recently I went out into the garden. It seemed different. Everything was white. I wandered slowly up the garden sniffing the air. There was little difference in the taste of the air. I stopped and looked across the garden. Then I remembered what it was. Snow had fallen. I recalled from previous years what fun it all was . I stepped out onto the snow. I must confess that I was overcome with excitement and I ran across the garden biting mouthfuls of soft white snow and letting it melt in my mouth. It was better than the water that was put down for me each day. It tasted so pure. I stopped and thought back to what I did with all the snow a year ago. I dropped my nose down into the soft fluffy layer so snow . It was cold and I flipped it up into the air. It fell again slowly. I looked about and I saw that the white blanket was falling all around me and I was able to throw it up into the air and watch the snow fall I created. I pushed my nose into a pile of snow and I kept pushing till it covered my head. The ground was still there and I pushed forward feeling the snow pile up over my head. Soon I was covered completely in snow. There were white flakes attached to every strand if fur that I had. I rolled in it and kicked my legs. Each leg would throw up its own fall of white flakes. The snow that was falling from the sky came down in large white flakes . The flakes moved slowly, first one way and then another. When rain fell it came down quite hard in round drops which exploded as they hit the ground and flew up again in a small shower of little drops. The drops hit the ground and disappeared completely. The snow just settled slowly and the flakes joined what was already there. It built up into a soft white covering and rested on any thing which was round or flat. Every branch had its own white covering which clung there rather than falling to the ground. I ran in the white covering and as each paw came up it had had its own little white covering. It was cold when the snow melted through my two layers of fur and eventually touched my skin.

When there is snow on the ground I really like to run out to enjoy it up to a point but as it is so cold I am back in quickly. This annoys my parents as they have to get up and open the door to the garden. They keep saying “No more out and in.”. I keep pestering then by pawing at the door from the inside for “out” and from the outside for “in “.

How lucky I am to be able to communicate with my parents.