It was a small shiney black one, and it jumps. Kimi spotted it on the sidewalk and thus the game of hopscotch commenced. Or maybe it was leap frog? No-it couldn't have been as they didn't leap over each other. Hmmm....maybe they invented a new game? One called 'hop-frog'?! Kimi hesitatingly walked up to it, watching it warily as it scurried across the concrete. Once she was upon it the spider came to a stand still. And there the two of them stood in a stale-mate, waiting to see who was going to make the first move. Kimi placed one foot on each side of it and waited, her eyes bright and unmoving. The spider held fast, wanting to be no pups victim. My ever-impatient Kimi decided to 'coax' the spider into moving and she gave it a quick jab with her nose to nudge it into action.

Imagine Kimi's surprise when the spider responded by jumping forward a few inches! Her head lifted in disbelief and she looked at me, her ever present grin growing wider as if to say "Hey! Cool...it moves!" Kimi jumped behind the spider, her front feet landing on each side of it and again she none-to- politely nudged it with her nose. The spider must have decided to play along with her, for it jumped forward again. As did Kimi, nudging as she landed.

The two of them quickly perfected their game and their speed increased as they happily...well as far as Kimi was concerned... "hop-frogged" their way down the sidewalk. The spider would jump forward with Kimi 'hot on his tail' (do you supose spiders even have tails?). As soon as the spider landed, Kimi would 'jump-to-it' and land, nose down, ready to nudge her new 'friend', should it tire of the game too quickly for her taste.

And "tatse" was just what I feared. Not knowing much about spiders (except to say that in OUR house the mommy person has to rescue the daddy person from them!) I grew worried. What it if bites her ? (or is it 'sting'?) What it if is poisonous? What if she eats it and then gets sick? I know the thought of eating a spider, or any other bug for that matter, makes me sick! I knew Kimi wasn't going to be too happy about this, but I had to end their game, to protect her you understand. So I did what any self-respecting mommy would do and I squashed it!

Okay-ecologically I should have just removed it, but spiders are like stray dogs, they keep coming back on you.

Never did I forsee Kimi's reaction to the ending of this game. She looked at me, her eyes wide-then she looked at her squashed friend, and quickly her almond eyes flicked back to mine. She slowly stood up, let out a sharp "YIP!" ( I think she said "MOM!"...or maybe "NO!"??) and went to her "friend" . After sniffing it once and prodding the scrunched creature with her nose, she realized her game was finished. (not to mention her 'friend')

Oh my poor breaking, laughing heart!! Kimi sat back on her haunches, raised her nose to the air and let out the most mournful little howl I have ever heard! She'd have put any old wolf to shame with her plainful tune. "Ow ow owoooooo!", she howled. Kimi sounded so sad and so pitiful that I felt just awful. What a bad bad mommy! In my quest to protect her, I ended what could have been a wonderful friendship! Oh for shame, I am a wicked wicked mommy!

And yes, I have to admit it, while I picked her up to love and comfort her, inside I was laughing at this most pathetic Kimi!

But her fun wasn't about to end there. Putting up with my loving for long enough, she soon began squirming in my arms, wanting put down to go play some more. Like any good Sheltie, she held no grudge in her heart and forgave me for my most basic human instincts. Off she raced to find what she could find to play with next. Shaking my head and smiling at her, I walked off to follow, always watchful that she doesn't get into something that could hurt her. Never realizing I was next in her line of attack!

Kimi soon came up with her next game. One we shall call "toe-tag" from this point on. She plays it like this: While you are walking..to wherever you are going (that part doesn't really matter one whit) she stands before you, as fierce as any lion in the jungle, growling and daring you to enter "Kimi-land" at your own risk. My momma often said I was to foolish for my own good and I kept walking.

Kimi, ever ready to take you up on your daring foolishness, leapt forward and grabbed my bare toe! "OUCH! Hey you little bugger, that was my toe!" She looked up at me and with her eyes bright, and a laughing grin on her sweet little face, she said "YIP!" (meaning ..."yep...it sure was...sssooo'sss THIS one!") And she 'nipped ' the toe on my other foot. I hollered her name in surprise and she jumped back a little, looking at me and laughing, I am sure. With another loud "YIP!" (this one meaning "dance mommy!") she lunged forward and grabbed another bare toe. For every step I took to move the offending foot from within her reach, she jumped forward and nipped a toe on the other foot. Now I am sure that those of you who know about Sheltie's, and that they are of the "herding" group, will say she was 'nipping' my toes out of instinct. I say "HOG-WASH!" She was doing it to "make mommy dance"! Or maybe to see how high she could make me step while doing the Irish-Jig! Whatever her reasons were, she had me in a most ackward position! And I don't mean by how the neighbors might see me.....have you ever tried walking in a normal manner with YOUR toes in the nipping jaws of a tiny she-devil named Kimi??? Across the yard we went, for every step forward I took, the opposite toes ended up in between her sharp little teeth. And every time I shouted "Kimi NO!" she answered back in response, "YIP!" (meaning "WHY?!" or maybe "Make me!") And all the while she sported the biggest grin I have yet to see her carry.

And to those of you who believe discipline is the only answer for controlling your pet, I say PEESHAW!! Where's your sense of fun? You sense of adventure? You all can just stick to your guns and boast of your perfectly controlled, and politely respectful poochies....Kimi and I have yet more fun to be had! While yours may be yawning behind paws of boredom, Kimi is laughing her way thru the puppyhood of her life. And I am right behind her, entering my second 'puppyhood' through her eyes.

Kristi (time for training soon enough...let's have some fun!)
Kimi ( isn't my mommy the bestest?)