It is nearly to time for us to go walking on leashes, but first we must spend more time exploring at home and teaching people how to give us treats.
For example, here is big brother James showing us how to sit down (which we already know how to do). He trains us with carrots.
Sometimes we entertain ourselves when Mama and Papa Bear go into the house.
Hey Serena, want to play outside?
Serena thinks about digging a hole. Great adventures lie beneath the surface.
Yeah Serena, digging in the dirt is fun!
What’s under this rock?
Look Serena, a worm!
Here are cousins Natalie and Kaly. See how nicely they are behaving for us?
People should know their places in a well-ordered dog world.
Yup, at the end of a tiring day you should rest.
If a job needs doing, then do it. Do what you gotta do!
Hello. I would like to show you around our special puppy pen, but we are busy right now.
We have some serious tussling to do.
Now we’re tuckered and we relax for a little while. I’ll show you the puppy pen soon.
We have lots of toys, but right now the blue shovel is THE special toy.
Serena has it and I want it.
Now I have the special blue shovel…
… and I won’t give it back!
Good puppies get a treat! I’ll show you the puppy pen later.
Three weeks have passed and we’ve already grown so much!
Now we bring Serena home in the car.
This is Karl. He’s the younger of your big brothers.
James welcomes Serena home.
Oh no. Serena gets all the attention. I don’t like thunderstorms. Woe is me!
A portrait of the young lady with the big paws.
Now this is fun! I get to be a dog again. Serena likes to tussle, too.
Our secret to growing up big and strong – power naps!
Big brother James takes me to Washburn Park.
Hello again, younger brother Karl!
Watch out Blackie, I’m going to be bigger than you some day!
Oh no! Not again. I hate being combed. Watch out, I might chew on those curtains again.
Nice to meet you Jen! (another new best friend)
“Fetch?” What do you mean “fetch?” Don’t you know that’s for dogs?
Run! I’ll show you how to run in a flash!
The beach. Waves. These waves sure have a lot of water behind them.
Tuckered again. Time for a power nap.
This is my new home. Let me show you around, and you will see all the hard work that a little dog must do. During this time I’m getting my new people family ready for Serena’s arrival. It’s enough to exhaust my patience!
Here’s my big brother James. He was a kid not long ago, so he understands me better than other big folks.
Oh no! I have to go to the Vet! She’s very nice, but she gave me bad news. I cannot play with other dogs for a month in case of dog diseases that young puppy dogs can catch.
So Papa Bear put me in a fruit basket to go on walks. There is a 2.5-pound weight at the bottom of the basket to keep me from tipping it over.
Here we are starting on a walk. Sometimes we go walking with other people. When they get in front of me and spoil the view, I bark at them. Get out of the way!
Now the weather is getting hot, and I take losts of naps to get recharged.
It got so hot that we drove to Lowe’s and bought an air conditioner!
Now this is the worst! A dog should be able to play in the dirt and make a mess, not take a bath and get brushed. How embarrassing!
You know, I have ways of getting even. Don’t test my patience!
Okay, so the big bears have been married for 35 years. Now get back to work and fix up my dog pen!
That’s better. You work while I take a nap.
Mama Bear teaches a 2nd Grade class at school every day. Everybody likes to hug me and I kiss them back.
Mama Bear went to choose a new puppy, a labradoodle. She named her “Serena.” Mama once had a dog named “Stella” and she still misses her, so Papa gave Serena to her.
This is where I came into the story. My Dad “Rocky” brought me out to visit Papa Bear. I played with my ball. I played hide-and-seek behind a tree and under a chair. I decided to go home with Papa Bear. He didn’t know what to do, but I had a plan. I got Mama Bear to give me to Papa Bear.
Surprise! Surprise! We’re going to be double trouble!
They named me “Little Rocky” after my Dad. I weighed only 4 pounds. It was a very busy day and I got tuckered. After a nap, I went home right away with Papa Bear. Serena stayed with the other puppies until she grew old enough to come home. She is younger than me and I will never let her forget it!