Village Shepherd

Double Trouble was the smallest of the litter of puppies. He was also the most mischievous. When the old lady saw him, she couldn't resist the way his ears flopped over his face or the way his tail wagged incessantly.

First of all she named him Rover, but it wasn't long before his nickname of Double Trouble stuck. Double Trouble had big paws and as the months passed, he grew to match. By the time he was six months old, Double Trouble was a big dog. Unfortunately, he didn't realise he was a big dog, so continued to try to climb up on the old lady's lap. And occasionally when he was full of joy and thrilled to see the old lady, he would jump up and put his paws on her shoulders.

"Oh, you!" the old lady would laugh. "Double Trouble, that's what you are. Now get down this minute." But Double Trouble never took any notice. He continued to lick all over the old lady's face until he was quite sure she smelled perfect.

But one day, when Double Trouble put his paws on the old lady's shoulders, she tottered backwards and fell over. Double Trouble licked and licked and licked at her face, but she didn't get up.

After that, Double Trouble was sent away for a long time. He found himself in a boot camp for dogs. There seemed to be someone who was very much in command, but Double Trouble took no notice at all. When the commander said, "Come here!" Double Trouble turned his back and sat down. When the commander said, "Sit!" Double Trouble immediately began to run around the hall.

At first, it was fun. All the other dogs seem to enjoy Double Trouble's antics, even though none of them joined him in his games. Very soon Double Trouble noticed that each time a dog obeyed the commander, that dog would be given a special treat. Double Trouble never received any treats. He also noticed that the commander ignored him when he disobeyed, and after a day or two Double Trouble got fed up with misbehaving.

And there was something about the commander. Whenever the commander spoke, Double Trouble discovered he wanted to obey, even though he pretended to take no notice at all. Eventually Double Trouble sat when the commander told him to sit. The commander made such a fuss of him, and gave him a lovely treat. Double Trouble was thrilled, and he found he was even more delighted with the commander's praise than he was with the treat.

After that, he began to take much more notice of the commander, and do as he was told. He couldn't be good all at once, but gradually he got better and better until eventually he was a perfectly behaved dog.

And then came the biggest treat of all, for the commander said, "Double Trouble, you're the best dog I have. I think you can go home now, because the old lady will be really safe with you."

So Double Trouble went home to the old lady, a much more gentle and thoughtful and considerate dog than when he had left. The old lady was delighted to see him back, and made a great fuss of him. And Double Trouble realised he could express his love for the old lady so much better now he was controlled and considerate. He never forgot his lessons at the boot camp, but he no longer needed anyone to tell him what to do, for he loved the old lady so much that he took great care of her. And besides, he was grown-up now, so much more sensible!