Sometimes when I go sit on the Mommy's lap, she will pet me and say, "Manny, everybody loves you." I just smile at her and say, "Yeah, I know." Of course, everybody loves me. I happen to be one of the best doggies ever. I know because I get told I am all the time. I know because the Mommy tells me so all the time. That's how she is. If she thinks you are awesome, she tells you. If she doesn't....then she doesn't say anything.
I have to admit, though, the Mommy doesn't think I am awesome all the time. Like, the time that I ate her favorite shoes, chewed up toys, ripped the couch, ate a bunch of candy and kept her up all night, made a dookie by the door...those were times she did not think I was awesome. When we used to live somewhere else, I would run down the street before she got me on the leash to visit some other dog friends. The Mommy would go chasing after me in her flip flops. Then, she didn't think I was too awesome, either.
She would always come get me, though, even when I was naughty. She would pick me up and carry me like a baby. I have to admit that I secretly liked it. That's why I would do it, so she would hold me in her arms. When we got home, she would tell me I was naughty and point her finger at my nose. Still, I knew that later that day I would be snuggling next to her in the chair.
When strangers come to our house, they don't love me right away. I like to bark at them and let them know that this is my territory. They need to know that this is my house, and I live here. Also, it is my job to protect the Mommy and watch out for my little sister, Mosie. I reward myself by laying on the couch in the living room. Even then, I get in trouble. The Mommy comes in the living room, and says, "Manny get off the couch." When I don't move, she says, "Manny, I can see you. You are not invisible." Then, I stretch and slowly get down. I want her to know that I know I'm not supposed to be there, but I'm not in any big hurry to get down, either.
The one who loves me the most, I think, is my little sister, Mosie. She is a pretty awesome doggie herself. I love to play with her, and we take naps together and everything. The Mommy calls me an Instigator when I play with Mosie, though. According to the Mommy, I do things to get Mosie in trouble. I give the Mommy my cutest dog look like, "What? Would I do that?" The Mommy says, "Manny, I don't know what you are doing, but stop doing it." I can tell you that it's not all my fault. Mosie plays like she is little and has a little brain, but she gets us into trouble, too.
Every night, I go to bed being hugged and petted and knowing that I am loved. That's probably why I wake up every morning thinking, "Today is the best day of my life!"