I will not be getting another dog any time soon. CiCi is still learning how to be a house dog. She’s come a long way from the nervous, wide-eyed pup we first brought home, but there’s still plenty of work ahead.
When we brought CiCi into our lives, she didn’t know what it meant to live inside a home. Every noise startled her, every shadow made her flinch. The television baffled her, the sound of the dishwasher sent her running, and she wasn’t quite sure what to make of the soft, warm bed we offered.
That’s when Chooch, our older and wiser dog, stepped in without being asked. Chooch had always been calm, steady, and endlessly patient. He showed CiCi that it was okay to lie by the fireplace, that the couch wasn’t a trap, and that sometimes people dropped snacks on the kitchen floor—so it was worth sticking around.
CiCi watched him closely, copying his every move. If Chooch went to the door, she followed. If he curled up in his favorite blanket, she curled up too. And when guests came over, she looked to him first to see if it was safe to wag her tail.
Now, months later, CiCi is braver. She greets us at the door with joy instead of uncertainty. She’s learning commands, walking more confidently on a leash, and finally understanding that belly rubs are one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Still, she’s not quite there yet. Loud noises still spook her, and we’re working on not chewing things that don’t belong to her. I know patience will get us the rest of the way.
Chooch is gone now, but his influence on CiCi lingers in every calm step she takes. In a way, he’s still training her—just from a different place.
And that’s why, for now, CiCi will be my only dog. She deserves all the love, guidance, and time I can give her.
