Asha and June

Asha and June Train the Dogs

and why shouldn't they?

June trains her dogs to sit, down, wait, come (well, sort of).
Asha trains her dogs to be happy and free!

Time to take a walk on the right side of the tracks.
Mansions and ancient trees shade their way.

June's dog, Lola, tongue lolling, walking along.
Now she trots in her short legged bob,
heeling nicely next to June,
corrected gently by a light tug on the leash.
Pants could cover a multitude of sins.

Excitement is in the air.
Asha's dog, Alexi, with mind set, decides to run for it.
The leash plays out, hits its limit
and Asha is snapped along
like a rag doll, rotator cuff sorely tested!
Lurching ahead, Asha calls to Alexi, "Heel, heel!"
Asha's heels try to keep the pace.

Lagging behind, Lola grins and huffs,
soon ready for the canter.
June steps up the pace.
(She's gotta catch up!)
Lola moves to the lope with ease,
needing pants more than ever.

Alexi, takes off, Asha cries,
"No, no! Come! Come!"
Alexi slows and peers back.
"Heel! No! Come! Come! No! Heel!"
Alexi grins, ignoring the mixed message,
hearing instead:
"Be Happy!
Live Free!!"

Lola receives a nickname:
Little Miss Trottie Pants.
Alexi's nickname is Alexiheel as in:
"ALEXI! HEEL! Alexi, heel!”,
called with fading hope.

Alexi slows to a run and zips back and forth,
checking every nuance in the sidewalk.
Asha lurches along the obstacle course,
leaping like a hind,
adept hooves avoiding midair collisions.

June, with Lola, ducks and weaves as Alexi spins a 360.
Slowing, born to fulfill her scent hound’s strength,
7 billion times a human’s,
She snuffles intently,checking for snail trails.
June, now forced to pull, shouts, "Come, Heel!"
jerking Lola's leash for emphasis.

Asha pulls the leash North, leaning backwards.
June jerks the leash South, leaning forwards,
Arms flail like girls readying for midsummer somersaults .

Ewww!
Lola’s snuffing in "no one knows who peed here" ivy!
Yank, yank.

Wait, someone knows because Asha is shouting,
"Ewww, quit peeing in the ivy!"
to Alexi, who is peeing in the ivy.

Mortification anoints all as
Two dogs poop on the lawn,
a beautiful, perfect verdant lawn,
gracing the stately Victorian Mansion
on the stately boulevard.

Asha sums it up,"They’re Animals!"

Home again, Alexi sphinx-like on the landing .
Lola, a worshiping novice, below.