I had the Best Time yappin’ with Brady Tomlinson this week. He’s a Golden Retriever who’s gonna be 9 in June, an he’s one of those pooches you wanna hang out with, you know, all frenly and joyful an easy-goin’. He was at the door with a flopsy, well-worn bunny, along with woofs, wiggles an, of course, the Welcoming Wag-an-Sniff.
“It’s so Cool Kibbles meetin’ the Bonz In the Fur! This is my Mommy, Tracy, an my Dad, Keith. (You just missed my human sisters Molly, Megan an Ellie. I love when they visit.) So, come on in. Make yourselves comf-tubble! Can I get you a water or anything?”
“No thanks, I’m good. It’s a pleasure meeting you as well. Can’t wait to hear your story.” I opened my notebook. “Ready when you are.”
Brady placed the rabbit on the floor and settled in. “Mommy an Dad already had Captain, a Golden Retriever like me, only bigger. They were livin’ in Ver-GIN-yuh an decided to get a liddle brother for Captain, so they went to the same, really nice breeder in Minnie-SO-duh where they got him. I was only 7 weeks old and Captain was 3. They all drove up to Minnie-SO-duh in a big ol’ Suh-BUR-ben to get me. I had my very own comf-tubble kennel to ride in. Me an Captain got along right away. I totally loved my big brother. He taught me a lotta Important Dog Stuff. He was Captain an everybody called me Liddle Man.”
Brady got a far-away look in his eyes. He nose-bumped his bunny an said, “Captain went to Dog Heaven a liddle while ago. He was 12. Now I guess I’m not Liddle Man anymore. It feels sorta Dismal Dog Biscuits, an I miss my Big Brother. So now I’m Brady, Dog of the House. I think that means I have more responsibility an haff to act Grown Up.”
“I understand,” I said, sympathetically. “Change can be hard. But I can see you’re up to it. So, tell me about your puppyhood. An your pooch pals. An your favrite stuff.”
“Well – this is kinda embarrassing – when I was just a wee puppy, I had this liddle issue: Whenever I got excited, I got all wiggly an waggy an then, well, I just sorta peed wherever I happened to be. Which mostly wasn’t the Appropriate, Designated Location. An, as you know, puppies get excited A LOT.”
“Oops,” I commented.
“Thank Lassie, Mommy an Dad were very unnerstanding, an we were all Very Happy when I outgrew it. Other than that, I’ve been a really good dog, if I do say so myself. My favrite toys are this bunny (which I rescued a long time ago from bag of toys my sister was givin’ away, an who knows what wudda happened to it); an my stuffy lobster. I still love to chew my toys, but I don’t chew ’em UP. Ackshully, it’s more of a munch than a chew.”
“Ah, yes,” I acknowledged. “A subtle but important difference.”
“I am also very fond of shoes. Whenever anyone leaves ’em lying around, I pick ’em up an move ’em to Other Locations. I NEVER harm ’em in any way, it’s just a relocation. I think it keeps Mommy an Dad from getting bored.
“In the summer, we go to Minnie-SO-duh, up to The Cove, which is a buncha water. Then I chase ducks. I’m nuts over ducks. Ackshully, sometimes, they chase me. We haven’t ever caught each other. But, I gotta admit, ducks are my downfall.
“I also love the lake, an ridin’ in boats is Totally Cool Kibbles. But I don’t jump in like some of my pooch pals. They launch themselves off the dock, sail through the air an land with a Ji-normous splash. It gives me the Willies just watchin’. Me, I go all the way around to where I can walk in from the shore like a civilized pooch.
“It’s also fun chasin’ that soapsudsy stuff down by the ocean, an those teeny, speedy liddle birds. Dog, are they fast!
“My Minnie-SO-duh BFF is Chloe, she’s a Golden like me. Louie’s another Golden. He loves paddleboardin’ with his Mom. Me, not so much. I go out with Mommy to be puh-lite, but I usually jump off before she’s done, which tips her right over into the lake. We’re good swimmers, so it’s OK.
“Down here I hang out with my next-door neighbors, Bob an Tilly; they’re rescues. We play in our yards and have leash walks together.”
“Got any favrite foodstuffs?”
“Dad usta make the most duh-licious chicken-an-rice every night for Captain, an now he makes it for ME. I like cheese, but I don’t get to eat it anymore. I’m very happy I was allowed to enjoy that turkey-an-sweet-puhtado snack your assistant gave me. As a matter of fact …”
Brady arose and puh-litely nose-bumped my assistant’s satchel, where the snack bag was stashed. After getting a green light from his Mom, he enjoyed another snack, then returned an sat down. I knew I’d get one later.
“Where do you usually sleep?”
“I have my own nice, soft bed but mostly I sleep on the floor right by Mommy an Dad’s bed. In the morning, I fetch the pay-per, then I get my vitamin an I’m ready to start another day. I’m always excited for What’s Next!”
Heading home, I was munchin’ my snack and thinkin’ about Brady an his joyful, outgoing personality, an how it makes pooches an humans happy just bein’ around him. I knew I felt that way, thinkin’ about the innerview. I hope my assistant gets more turkey-an-sweet puhtado snacks. We’re almost out.
Till next time,
The Bonz
