Written by Irie

‘alooooo! Perritos, do you know what happens on Fridays? All of TJ’s pawpals come to the office for dog-friendly Friday! We’re an office dog gang, BOLOL!

Okay, well mostly it’s just Cody and me, but we have lots of fun. I chase him and steal his toys, and he tells me to stop bugging him and get out of his territory. He so doesn’t mean it, though – I can tell he likes me. Even Cody’s mommy said that while I was napping on my bed Cody came over and sniffed my head. That can only mean one thing perritos – Cody will be my friend yet!

Anyhowl, you can probably guess cachorritos, no? Fridays arf my faaavorite day of the week.  I get to roam all over the office. I sneak into all the bosses’ offices to get a treat and a nice long pet. I have a mission to expand my Jackahuahua kingdom all the way to the iLD President’s office! Woof! Um, just don’t tell him about it just yet.

I coax all the iLD humans into giving me lots and LOTS of yummy for my tummy biscuits. BOL! I’m so sly, so cool, so sneaky sneaky. I even get some TJ’s Health Bites from time to time. Yum, peanut butter goodness!

But this past Friday I had the longest afternoon cachorritos! I had to teach my office auntie (also Cody’s mom and the office trainer human) how she’s supposed to give me treats. She wasn’t as easy as the other office humans. With the other humans, I just sit and look pretty. I snuggle their hands a bit, give them a lick on the toes and ta-daaa: biscuits! But this human, sheesh, she’s a lot of work!

At first she would show me the treat and then she’d put it down on the ground between my paws. I stuck my snout in and around her hand to pry the dang thing out, but she wouldn’t budge! I looked at her and telepathically sent her a message, “Give me my treat, lady!” But nothing.

So, I thought about it and thought about it. She wouldn’t say nothing so I tried again, then she pushed the treat farther back between my legs. What the heck! So I had to kinda bow a bit to get to it, and FINALLY, she gave me my treat! Phew! It was such a relief. Okay, so my office auntie wanted me to kinda bow to get my treat, I got it. I’m a smart JRT, amiguitos, I know how to get those treats.

Then, she pulled out another treat. This time I knew what to teach her. Look here human, when I bow slightly back like this, give me my treat! But, dangit, no treat! She wouldn’t budge again. I looked at her, telepathically sent her another message, but nothing.

Finally she pushed that dang treat so far back between my front paws that I had to just plop on down and try to dig under her flat hand. But, I didn’t have to try very hard because she gave me the treat right away and she said, “Down.” I can only assume that means “you win” in human language.

So now, every time she says “Down,” I plop right down and give her the signal for my treat. I got her trained good!

Irie La Mona (The Little Doll) is a bilingual Jack Russell Terrier-Chihuahua mix adopted from the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter. She aspires to one day host her very own show and be the Oprah of mixed-breed pups around the world! Check out her other articles!