Gizmo by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

When do we get to play?

Charles could tell that Gizmo was as eager to get going as he was.

“Okay, then,” said Carmen finally. “Let’s all go over to the tunnel. Keep your dogs on their leashes, and don’t let them play with each other. They need to focus on you and pay attention to what you’re asking them to do.”

The tunnel looked like a giant yellow Slinky that could squinch up to be very short and straight, the way it was now, or pull out like an accordion to be long and curvy, like the ones Charles and Lizzie had seen in agility videos. Charles smiled. Gizmo was going to love this.

Charles stepped right up to the tunnel with Gizmo next to him. “Can we go first?” he asked.

“Sure,” said Carmen. “If you’ll go to the other end and have a treat ready, I’ll hold Gizmo at this end and let him go when you call to him. Remember, say ‘yes!’ and toss the treat out in front of him as he comes through.”

“Okay,” said Charles. He handed the leash to Carmen.

“Hello there, Mr. Gizmo.” Carmen smiled down at him. “Aren’t you a cutie?” She bent down to scratch him between the ears as Charles walked to the other end of the tunnel. Charles could tell that Carmen spoke Dog, too. Gizmo did not seem shy with her at all. “Ready, Charles?” she asked. “Go ahead and call him.”

“Gizmo, come!” Charles called through the yellow tube.

At the other end, Gizmo sat up straight and peered around the side of the tunnel to look at Charles.

“This way, Gizmo.” Charles poked his head even farther into the tunnel. “You can do it.”

Gizmo barked.

“Let’s go, Gizmo.” Through the tunnel, Charles saw Carmen give Gizmo a little nudge from behind.

“Go, Gizmo,” Lizzie chimed in. “Do the tunnel.”

But Gizmo didn’t race through the tunnel. He jumped up and began to spin around, barking, until Carmen said, “All right, that’s enough for this time. Some dogs just don’t get the tunnel when they first see it.”

Charles couldn’t believe it. Gizmo, who would do anything in the backyard, wouldn’t do this simple little thing. He wanted to ask for one more try, but the others were waiting. He stood up and trudged back to take Gizmo’s leash from Carmen. She smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then turned to Aunt Amanda. “How about Lionel?”

Aunt Amanda handed Lionel’s leash to Carmen and went to the other end of the tunnel to call him. Carmen let go of the leash, and Lionel galloped through the tunnel. “Yes!” cried Aunt Amanda. She tossed the treat and Lionel snuffled at it, then gobbled it up off the floor as Aunt Amanda grabbed his leash.

Charles stared. Silly little short-legged Lionel could do it, and Gizmo couldn’t? This was crazy.

“Nicely done,” said Carmen. “Ready, Lizzie?”

Lizzie stepped up. “Sure,” she said. She handed Buddy’s leash to Carmen, dug a treat out of her pocket, and went to the other end of the tunnel.

“Come on, Buddy,” she cried.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.