Roll Over!

Having heard good review about the pet daycare, the young lady decided to check it out to see if it was a good place to leave her dog at during the day as she was busy in her office most of the week. She approached the large facility, noting that it appeared more like a resort than a daycare before walking through the doors. She walked up to front desk, greeted by the receptionist who wore a bright red choker with a golden tag in the front and… oddly had her tongue hanging out? “Hello and welcome to ‘Owners 2 Pets’! Is there anything I can do for you?” A bit surprised by her directness, the young lady explained that she only just found out about the place. “I saw it in an ad, but there wasn’t much info about this place. I just want to make sure I can afford to bring my Dalmatian here on a regular basis”

The receptionist pulled her tongue in with a loud *SLURP* before giving her a toothy smile, “I can see why a Dalmatian would want a good girl like you! Well, if you take our free sample tour, you won’t have to worry about cost in the end!” Seeing how friendly, though odd, she was, the young lady decided to take the tour, filling out an information sheet before they headed into the facility.

Stepping through the pressurized doors, a warm, comfortable breeze hit the young lady as she felt her body feel relaxed, yet filled with energy on the inside. “We keep our daycare pressurized with a special air that helps keep our residents happy and healthy. Hopefully it’s to your liking?” The young woman could only pant, nodding her head as her tongue flopped out of her mouth. The receptionist smiled commenting on how a ‘good girl’ she was again before leading her to a room with many salon chairs, occupied by other people. The young woman was lead to a chair of her own before she could say anything, the soft, spotted chair making her relax before another employee came and started massaging her face. “It’s here where we make sure all our good boys and girls are given the best massages, helping you keep you perfect canine body!” The receptionist explains, the massager removing their hands from the lady’s face, revealing a short canine muzzle protruding from her face, covered with white, black spotted fur. “I feel… happy? Kinda giddy, too,” she tried to explain, her tongue hanging naturally out of her snout now. The receptionist helped her out of the chair, leading her from the room before the young lady could notice the other ‘full-time’ guests were having their wagging tails pushed out, nails on their thickening paw hands polished and their feet stretched and massaged into dog-like paws.

Moving on to the next room, labeled ‘Training House’, the receptionist brought her progressing tourist to the ‘Puppy Beginner’s Room’ “Now, you won’t be able to take part in the whole class, but I’m sure you’ll learn a lot and feel more like your doggy self!” Before she could ask about the class, the receptionist had already left, leaving her in the wide room. There were several other dog people in the room as well, each in different stages of their transformations: some were only partially like her, others with tails that wagged behind them and paw hands, and a few that were nearly finished, with full coats of fur. All of them were sitting on colorful towels neatly laid out in rows, waiting patiently for their instructor as their bottoms and tails wagged eagerly. Not wanting them to find out that she was only on a ‘free trial’, she quickly scurried an open spot in the front, naturally sitting down in a canine manner, just like the rest of the guests.

The training instructor walked in soon after, smiling with her tongue hanging out and wearing a similar choker around her neck like the receptionist wore. “Hello! It’s great to see all you wonderful, good dogs to get some training done!” The young lady tilted her head a bit in confusion; there were other dogs in this room, too? “First let’s start with the basics! I’m sure you all knew when you were puppies, it was always a must to give a healthy bark whenever you say ‘yes’, so we can skip over that. For now, let’s properly get onto all fours!” “*BARK* ma’am!” everyone, including the lady, responded back. Looking around, the instructor laid her eyes on the young lady, gesturing her to come to the front.

“While good dogs are allowed to stand on two feet, it’s always important to know how to properly go on all fours,” She positions her so that she is seen from the side. Moving around, she adjusts her stance so that the young woman is on her hands and knees while keeping the balls of her feet planted firmly on the ground behind her, “It is very important to know the three stances of dog people. This is the relaxed position in which most of you will naturally do when not walking on fours or running. Notice how the balls of her feet and toes are firmly on the ground as it is an essential all four-legged positions.”

Moving again, she adjusts her knees and legs so that she is now solely standing on her hands and the balls of her feet, knees bent under her abdomen, “And this is our everyday walking position. Should your master want to take you outside for four-legged walkies, this is ideal for walking as your bent knees help stable your stance as well as preparing to propel yourself forward should you be going out for a run instead,” The young woman could only listen, her tongue casually hanging out of snout as she carefully listened to all the intriguing facts of dog people stances.

Before the class could continue, a bell rang, causing everyone in the room to get onto all fours an pad out of the room. “Be sure to review your stances! Next week we will cover the third: the ‘show dog’!” “*BARK* ma’am!” The receptionist reappeared, looking expectantly at her, “Well I hope you enjoyed our wonderful tour! Unfortunately, it must end here,” The young woman whimpered and whined a bit, “Aw, I really like it here though! I was learning and taken care for so much! *whine*” “On the bright side, your master is here to pick you up!” Her ears nearly perked up as she began to pant wildly with happiness, racing off towards the front desk to see her Dalmatian, Ben, standing there with his bright red leash in his maw. “Master!” she barked before bounding to him, licking his face affectionately as he happily returned the love before handing her the leash. Knowing exactly what to do with it, she clasps the collar part around her neck while Ben holds the other end in his snout. The receptionist walks over, joining in a trio of panting tongues as the young woman position herself into the walking position. “She really enjoys it here! I’m sure she love staying here whenever your schedule builds up,” *Bark, woof!* “Don’t worry about the cost sir! We here at ‘Owners 2 Pets’ believe everyone deserves the love and care they need without the heavy cost!” *Bark, bark!* “We’ll see you next week, too, then! Thank you for experiencing bit of what it means to be a good dog, sir! *BARK!*”

_____________________________________________________________

Story by