Humans needs thier coffee. The first thing I need in the morning is my walk.

I’m not content to take my first whiz of the day in the backyard. Heck no. I’m going to mark the cul-de-sacs and neighborhood blocks. A girl’s got  to have her workout too. 

Problem is my human is lazy and is still snoozing long after the sun has risen. So I have to be inventive when I wake her up.

Pokes with my cold, wet nose got her to flinch but didn’t do the trick. I curled up by her head and flicked my feathery tail in her face a couple of times which got her to grumble and bat her arms but she still slept.

Once I decided to get forceful and reared up on my hind legs and woofed really loud. She had a late night and still didn’t budge.

Pity got me what I wanted a couple of times. One time the human slept with her hand hanging off the bed. I nudged her hand with my head, rolled my big, dark eyes at her and whined. Her eyes flew open and she pet me. Then, to my delight, she stumbled out of bed and grabbed my leash.

Another time I paced by the door and whimpered loudly. That got her to jump up with her eyes half closed and fumble for the plastic baggies and leash.

But sometimes I’m too proud to beg and I often prefer to bump into the bedside. That rouses her.

Persistence also works. If I pad around her bed long enough she will wake up. One time I got bored and picked up my squeaky toy. I squeezed the toy with my jaws consciously until the squeaking got her to stir.

She got up and ambled downstairs. My tail wagged furiously and my lips blossomed into a grin as I danced after her. I plucked the leash with my mouth and gave it to her. She groggily attached it and I pulled her out the door. Out to the sun and grass and neighbors’ flower beds.