"Daddy" and I were sitting in our backyard swing watching Kimi play with anything and everything she came across. As we sat side by side on the swing, watching our neighbors, listening to the call of the evening birds, and enjoying a cool summer breeze, Kimi set about learning. The "teacher" she chose this time was our female Newfoundland Katy. Being almost 9 years old, Katy is the 'grandmother' in our bunch. Katy was sitting on her large hairy haunches when Kimi first approached her. Fearing nothing, Kimi walked right up to her, stood before her and craning her neck back as far as she could....short little Kimi did her best to look into Katies eyes. Though Katies eyes were resting on her favorite sight (daddy), Kimi didn't let this deter her in the slightest. She just hopped up as high as she could, touching her little black nose to Katies big black bottom lip and said "YIP!"

Katies head dropped in surprise, and when she saw Kimi standing there expectantly, Katy let out a loud airy Huurmfph!! on Kimi's head. The blast of hot air from Katy rippled over Kimi's head like a shock wave and it startled her. Kimi jumped backwards and ducked like she expected something more to hit, and Katies head cocked to the left. Katy had an amused grin on her face when she leaned down to reassure Kimi that all was well. The two looked at each other for a minute, large black intelligent eyes gazing fondly into smaller almond inquisitive ones. They must have been talking thru mental telepathy for though not a sound could be heard between the two, you could see the questions on Kimi's face and the look of understanding come over Katies.

Laboriously Katy got to her feet, old arthritic bones shuffling along, with our happy little 'student' bouncing along at her heals. First Katy walked over to the water bucket and got herself a drink. Kimi watched her with curious eyes, then jumped up to put her feet on the top rim. She stretched her body to full height, dipped her tiny nose into the waters edge and I watched as her pink tongue lapped at the water. Her thirst quenched much sooner than Katie, Kimi just stood there, head cocked to one side and watched as Katy drank her fill.

When Katy finished and turned to cross thru the backyard, Kimi followed right behind her. Katy stopped to sniff and nibble a long piece of grass growing thru the landscaping rocks around our tree. As she nibbled Kimi watched and when Katy moved on Kimi walked up to the very spot Katy had been standing, and sniffed where Katy had. Then to my surprise, Kimi began to nibble on the exact same piece of grass Katy had been munching on!

Finding it boring and tasteless, or both, Kimi looked around for her new 'teacher' Spotting Katy by the flower bed, quietly munching on the ornamental grass, Kimi slowly wandered in that direction. Stopping in the shade to observe her 'teacher', Kimi lay down, her eyes never leaving Katy. Bite, tear, munch...bite, tear munch..went Katy, looking much like a big hairy black cow as she grazed. As before, when Katy finished and moved on, Kimi moved in and sampled the stems of grass Katy had been chewing on. Finding this more to her liking, Kimi stayed there until she heard Katies funny little growling noises.

Kimi's head snapped up, her eyes bright, ears perked at the sound, and looked around her. As she spotted Katy laying in the grass happily rubbing her head back and forth on the ground scratching her ears, Kimi hopped and bounded over to Katies side, yipping as she did. Kimi obviously thought Katy was being funny because Kimi's famous silly grin popped into view, her tiny body began wiggling all over in excitement and her tail was wagging furiously. Deciding to try this out for herself, Kimi threw herself down in the grass near Katy and began rubbing her head around! It felt so good though that soon Kimi was flopping and twisting her whole body back and forth, scratching her back and sides too! Her short white legs were pumping in the air like she was riding an upside down bicycle and her wet little tongue hung comically from the corner of her mouth. Joining in the noise making, Kimi let out growls and yips, chorusing Katy.

When Katy stopped and lay in the grass so did Kimi, but instead of quietly taking a nap, she lay there yipping at Katy. I think she wanted to be shown more fun stuff!

Katy hasn't been the only teacher for Kimi though. Kimi has been learning to sit and lay down too. Teaching her to lay down was easier than teaching her to sit as Kimi had some trouble mastering that one. In the beginning of her sitting lessons, I would place on hand on her rump and push down slightly as I said 'sit', and Kimi would do so easily. The problem came in as the lessons progressed and she began sitting on her own when told too. Standing there on all white fours when told to sit, Kimi would take a step backwards, tucking her behind under and sitting down as she backed up. However from time to time Kimi would forget to tuck her behind under and she just kept backing up across the floor! The look on her face would become confused as she backed up, like she knew something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure just what it was! I had to laugh at her expression as I reached to help her sit down. The she would sit there with a happy little grin, and with her tongue hanging as though she had figured it out and was happy to have done so! As cute as it was, I am happy to say that Kimi has since mastered both of those lessons. At the young age of three months, Kimi already knows how to sit and lay down when asked to do so. Now if only she could master the potty training things as easily.

Kimi has at least figured out how to ring the bells hanging from the front door when she wants to go outside. Unfortunately for our floors, it is usually AFTER she has already done her thing. Oh well....she is young yet, and I will never expect perfection in her or anyone.

For Kimi's next lesson it will be for fun. Maybe I will teach her to shake hands, or to roll over. She already fetches and 'speaks' when told, but those came naturally. Sort of like walking does to us. All we needed was some practice and a little help and encouragement. Whatever Kimi's next lesson will be, it will be something just for fun though. Learning is hard sometimes, even for Kimi, but if you make it fun to learn, you make it easier to learn. Kimi makes an eager and willing student, no matter who teachers her what, but more so when you make it fun for her too .

Learning can be fun and rewarding, it all depends on your approach to it.

walk in beauty
Kristi & Kimi