Being embarrassed by your kids is a joy that every parent experiences at an inopportune moment. But being embarrassed by your dog? I did not see that one coming.
Our poodle Merlin is full of surprises, and most of them aren’t the type you wrap up as presents.
The other day we were walking my daughter to school like normal. Since dogs aren’t allowed on campus, I paused at the gate like I always do to watch my daughter walk across the sidewalk and through the doors of school. Before I realized what had happened, Merlin slipped out of his collar and tore off into the school parking lot.
“Merlin!” my daughter screamed in her little voice. The high stakes chase began. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Merlin in the five months we’ve owned him, it’s that he’s a bolter. Eight weeks of obedience training didn’t help.
Weighed down by my fleece pullover and winter coat, I ran after Merlin as fast as I could, while at the same time tracking my daughter to make sure she stayed on the sidewalk and entered school safely. Merlin charged past cars and leapt up the curb to where the kids were filing into school.
“Did you see a poodle?” I screamed, a good 20 feet behind him. Moms, dads, crossing guards and kids pointed me in the right direction. “I’m sorry!” I sped past the principal, mortified by Merlin’s behavior.
By the time I reached the school field, I thought I had Merlin cornered. My heart beat so hard it felt like my chest would explode. I’m not a runner, and my bulky clothing made things worse. But then Merlin escaped through the back parking lot. An SUV squealed to a halt and Merlin sprinted away.
“Merlin!” I was running uphill and couldn’t see him anymore. But then there he was, a little poof of fur. Merlin paused to sniff a mail box.
I held up his blue leash and jingled it. “Hey, Merlin. Do you want to go for a walk?” I kept my voice calm. Merlin crept forward like he knew he was in trouble, but allowed me to put on his collar again. It was a smidge too big after his grooming a few days before had thinned his neck fur.
Our walk home from school was uneventful. “What was your plan?” I asked Merlin. I pictured him forming a pack of wild poodles who roamed the mean streets of Edmonds. “You don’t even like kibble. How would you survive on squirrels?”
I couldn’t help wondering if I would now be known as the neighborhood’s Poodle Lady. Maybe there would be a firmly worded robocall from school that afternoon reminding parents that dogs are not allowed on campus.
Dog experts usually list poodles as one of the more intelligent breeds. In Merlin’s case, I’m not sure that’s true.
Although, he does really like going to school.
Jennifer Bardsley lives in Edmonds. Her book “Genesis Girl” comes out Sept. 27. Find her online on Instagram @the_ya_gal, Twitter @jennbardsley or at teachingmybabytoread.com.
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