1.1 Dog Bailey

Bailey and her Friends

1.1 Met Bailey

Bailey is a 7-year-old Chocolate Labrador Retriever. When I first met her, she threw all her enthusiasm and love at me, including her weight of more than one pound. Her initial welcome ceremony lasted more than ten minutes.

But that time, Jackson, Bailey’s best friend, a black cat, sat at a distance and observed me coldly, as if to say, “Let’s see!”

After our initial meeting, Bailey and I began walking together multiple times daily. We became almost inseparable. Shortly after, we confirmed that I was her mama, and she had become my baby! We understand: we need each other!

Fortunately, though stubborn, Jackson also decided I was not the wrong person and could be her mother.

Bailey and Jackson became my girl and boy; they are my babies. We like to walk together in the neighborhood, which is our happiest time.

When we walk, Bailey is always in high spirits. Usually, she grins with a silly smile and walks at the forefront. Her tail and butt twist from left to right, and her soft ears flick with the same rhythm as her body. She greets all the neighbors we meet, and if one of them shows a slight interest in us, she gets excited, loses control, and jumps at the neighbor. If we meet a dog she doesn’t like, she immediately changes her face and bark, as if telling the dog: I am not afraid of you today. She only acts like a bully when a more powerful person protects her. We know she is not a bully deep down. We always laugh at her for being silly. We know her as a sweet girl, and she never hurt any person or animal.

Bailey’s eyes are always warm and clear, like a child’s. She looks directly at me to express her feelings, desires, and expectations. I can never say “no” when she shows me those eyes.

Bailey has beautiful fur. It changes color with rays of light and the season. Her fur is like chocolate in the summer sun with rich, creamy milk added. In the fall, her hair becomes dark chocolate. Sometimes, her coat is like wine—shiny and crystalline. And she is always happy. Her happiness always infects me and makes me happy, too. She always trusts me, even after I tease her.

In her world, I am her whole world.

Maybe because I am her whole world, she is afraid to lose me.

She quickly becomes jealous of anyone closer to me, even her best friend, Jackson. For example, if she sees me holding Jackson, she must jump at us, bark, and chase us until I give Jackson up. I can’t even kiss or hug her Dad, my husband, Sandy, Gabby, our daughter, or her sister.

Once, I took Bailey with me to a friend’s home. We sat on a big sofa and talked. Bailey jumped on the couch and sat on my lap. She stared at my friend. Bailey sent an unmistakable message to my friend: “Don’t get too close! She is my mama! “

I feel Bailey understands everything. She is almost like a human. When Bailey does not respond to our commands, it’s not because Bailey doesn’t understand. She doesn’t like the order, or she thinks it is not very smart.

I often wonder what a dog thinks. I watch Baileyer and try to understand her world. I usually talk to her like I talk with a human.

Bailey is talented at languages. She can understand three languages. Bailey is an American, so she understands English. She understands Chinese because I am Chinese and often speak Chinese to her.

She also understands Spanish because many workers around us speak Spanish to her.

A dog can understand three languages! Don’t you think she is a gifted dog?

Bailey and I have made many friends and had many adventures together. I want to introduce our friends and tell you our life stories in the future.