Shelby Ann Tries

Shelby Ann, our dog named after the name R's mom had picked for him if he was a girl (Shelby, I added Ann), is our girl dog. And by girl dog, I do mean biologically, but more than that, behaviorally. Even our neighbors know, Shelby Ann can be loved, but she cannot be tamed. She does what she wants, and is usually successful at getting others to do what she wants. I've seen her run to the kitchen for no reason other than to make Tanner follow her, thinking she knew something he didn't, and then her rush to the soft dog bed he just abandoned due to following her. She stands dangerously close to R in the kitchen, resulting in him tripping over her when he turns around; and when she escapes her leash, she waits for R to get his bike or keys so she can be chased through the neighborhood.

Lately I've also noticed, she is trying to make me a better person.

She wakes up and starts barking between 5am and 6:30am to encourage me to go for a jog.
Of course what actually happens is R gets up to let her outside and I keep sleeping.

When I try to take a nap on the couch she sits by my ear and produces a very high pitch whine to ask to go outside. 

I think she's been trying to tell me that I should be folding laundry or dusting.

She digs in the garden and along the fence line, seemingly just for fun. 

I really should go outside and pull weeds more often. In my head, I'd like to be good at gardening.

She is constantly patrolling the yard when outside.

Allowing me to venture out with limited lizards and other reptiles, so Squirms can play outside.

She licks the kitchen floor whenever I spray Pam. She runs across the house when she hears the spraying noise, hurrying to help clean.

I should use the wet swiffer more.

I'm sure I'm her most difficult project yet. I'll keep trying Shelby Ann.