Terrier Terror by Leslie O'Kane

Author:Leslie O'Kane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Animals, Dog trainers, Pets, Quick fun read, set in Colorado
Publisher: Leslie O'Kane
Published: 2019-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Jesse showed me around his rented trailer, which took very little time. It had one bedroom and Murphy-bed-style fold-down tables and padded benches. He had brought Dog Face, Eeyore, and Lulu—a rambunctious puppy—with him. Unlike Valerie, Jesse was not only happy to see me but eagerly contributed to our discussion of the obstacle courses his dog would be running. There would be at least two separate courses: the Standard course, which has a pause table in which the dog must jump onto the platform and maintain contact with all four paws for five seconds, and the Jumps with Weaves course, which adds the weave poles and subtracts the table. A third course would be a Jump with Weaves course for finalists only.

Jesse and I had an easy interaction, both agreeing that the trouble areas for Dog Face could be: losing his focus as he exited the seesaw while running toward the audience, having to make a one-eighty turn toward the tunnel—his least favorite obstacle—and his having to weave through the posts so early in the course.

As I stood up at the end of our discussion, Jesse asked if he could get me anything—coffee, cold water, apple slices. He searched my eyes and seemed to be intentionally stalling. He reminded me of how my dogs often tried to engage me in something, anything, to distract me into not leaving the house without them.

“Is there something else on your mind, Jesse?” I asked.

“Not really. I was just wondering how Sophie Sophistica was doing.”

“During our practice sessions?”

“Yeah. I just....” He let his voice fade.

“It would be an enormous upset if she doesn’t win for the eight-inch-and-under category. As for overall, frankly, it’s just so hard for her to beat dogs in the twenty-inch jumps category, like Dog Face. That said, she always keeps her focus, and she always jumps clean. She’s going to be hard to beat. So will Dog Face.”

He gazed out the small window by the booth-style kitchen table where he remained sitting. “You know, Allie, I’ve been chewing on this same gritty, sour-tasting bone for a full year now. Changed my dog’s name. All because I had nothing whatsoever to do with him mating with Valerie’s Airedale. Lately I’ve realized it’s lucky I don’t happen to have any kids. I’d hate to be trying to teach them about how to be a goodhearted, responsible adult...focused on what really matters.”

He shifted his vision to me, and I gave him a sympathetic nod. Inwardly, I forced myself not to smile with gratitude. Thank goodness one of them was finally taking the highroad.

“I’ve been letting it get to me...lost all of my perspective. I did stupid things like trying to race over my dog’s teetertotter.” He gestured at his injured leg. “Meanwhile, maybe all that motivated Terrington’s killer was the same type of petty nonsense, which they magnified into a battle over their own self-image, or something.”

“I agree, Jesse. As my mom is forever telling me: choose your battles.”

“Yeah. That’s probably what makes her a good parent.

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