Barkley (The Puppy Place #66) by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Good boy, Barkley!” Lizzie gave Barkley a treat and patted him on the head. Then she smiled at Buddy. “Well, you’re a good boy, too, aren’t you?” She gave Buddy a treat, too.

The next afternoon, after she’d done her dog-walking route, and Lizzie went back to the dog park. She’d wanted to give Barkley a chance to really run—he was such a big dog that the Petersons’ backyard was like a tiny playpen to him. Plus, she’d been working on his manners, and she wanted to see how well he could behave in a more public place. They’d been there for fifteen minutes, and so far, he had not jumped up on anyone. That was great!

Barkley and Buddy trotted off, shoulder to shoulder, like friends who came to a party together. They had gotten to be good pals already, and Lizzie loved watching them play. Barkley was so gentle with the smaller dog.

Lizzie looked toward the entry gate to the dog park. Where was Maria? Lizzie had asked her to come to the dog park, too. She knew her dad was right: She had to tell her friend the truth and the sooner the better. Lizzie was nervous about it, but it had to be done, and the dog park seemed like a good, neutral place to do it. She would tell Maria that she did not like scary movies. Or scary decorations. Or scary foods. If Maria laughed at her or told her to grow up, then at least Lizzie would have an excuse to skip the party.

Now Buddy and Barkley were taking off in different directions, like friends who had decided it was time to mingle with the other party guests. Buddy romped off to say hello to a boxer while Barkley joined a pack of bigger dogs: a Great Dane, some kind of big lab-shepherd mix, and a poodle with wild curls. Lizzie watched to make sure Barkley was on his best behavior. He really was. He play-bowed and chased and let himself be chased, all in good fun.

“Hey, Lizzie!” Maria called, waving as she approached. “Looks like the guys are having a blast.”

Lizzie nodded. “Barkley really is a good boy. He just needed a little more guidance than Sonia was giving him.”

“Do you think she’ll be able to keep up the training?” Maria asked, folding her arms as they stood watching the dogs play. “I mean, Sonia is going to take him back when she gets home from her trip, right?”

Lizzie shrugged. “That’s the plan,” she said. “But sometimes I wonder. We’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out.” She took a deep breath. “So,” she began, “there’s something I wanted to tell you—”

Just then, Buddy dashed across the field, running as fast as he could as a bigger dog chased after him. “Whoa, Buddy looks a little scared!” said Lizzie. She could see the whites of his eyes, and his ears were flattened back against his head.

“Come on, Buddy!” Lizzie called, kneeling down to open her arms to him.

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