Incredibull Stella by Marika Meeks

Author:Marika Meeks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Citadel Press
Published: 2019-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Booker and Cena

Brian with foster pup Cena, spring 2016.

Spring 2016

Once Megan from the Pit Bull Coalition had assured me that Stella wasn’t a dangerous dog, I was able to enjoy Stella again, enjoy Stella just being Stella, a naturally happy and rambunctious pup, without constantly worrying that her personality would suddenly change and she’d become violent and out of control. Still, I knew that no dog was completely predictable in terms of behavior, and the better we trained Stella, the better it would be for her and for us in the long run. I remained cautious and careful with her, spending a lot of time and energy on exercise and training, making sure she understood the rules and limits we set for her.

As much as I loved working on my own with Stella on training and commands, I believed there was more I could do. I showed Brian the website for the Fort Wayne Obedience Training Club. “I want to take Stella here,” I told him. “They have an eight-week beginners’ obedience course for dogs over six months old, so they can work on mastering the basics like sit, stay, lie down, walking on a leash, coming when called, and so forth. Most of the stuff she already knows, but I think it would be really good for her to get this kind of reinforcement, and I could make sure I’m training her the right way, too.”

He nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. I’ll come with you, if you want.”

Wow! I hadn’t expected that he’d offer to join me, but I was so glad he did. He worked so hard, so many long hours running the restaurants, I couldn’t believe he’d give up precious time when he could be relaxing at home, watching basketball or reruns of M*A*S*H, in order to work with me and Stella. He’s doing this for me, I thought. So we can spend more time together. It was little gestures like this that made me love him even more than I already did, which is saying a lot.

Classes were held Tuesday nights at seven p.m. in the Home Loan building on the Allen County Fairgrounds in Fort Wayne. I was so excited as we drove to our first session with Stella quietly sitting on her haunches in the backseat of the SUV. I didn’t want to be one of those overbearing moms, but I couldn’t help thinking, My dog is brilliant! She’ll be an A+ student for sure! I certainly pictured her graduating the top of her class.

As Brian and I walked Stella through the quiet fairgrounds on that cool, early spring evening, I remembered how alive this place was at the end of July when the Allen County Fair was in full swing, with the merry carnival atmosphere of the midway, the noise and the music, the Ferris wheel, the Tilt-a-Whirl, the House of Mirrors, all lit up with flashing neon, and the air rich with the delicious aroma of cotton candy, funnel cakes, and roasted corn on the cob.

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