Penny here! Bet you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to!

Well, first off let me tell you that I’ve been going to school every week. Mom takes me into the ring and gives me treats when I do stuff. Daddy comes along to watch cause I’m beautiful. Or something.

For the last two weeks I have decided I need to tell the other dogs in my class off, and I’ve been lunging and growling and barking at them. Mom takes me right out of the ring when I do that. Dad shakes his head. They haven’t figured out what my problem is — I’ve been going to school since I was a baby and never did this before.

Mom is very discouraged.

But on happier fronts, daddy has been getting some work done on my castle so there’s lots of strangers and weird noises that cause me to bark. A lot. After all it’s my responsibility to warn my folks of all imminent danger.

So mom’s been packing me and my stuff up and taking me away for days at a time. I’m not always sure I want to go, because sometimes when she bundles me up in the car I end up at the groomer or the vet.

But so far we’ve been visiting parks! A different park every day! Sometimes two parks in a day!

Mom and I have been walking millions of trillions of steps every day. She says she’s tired. We both sleep all night, so that’s good. I personally think it’s good for mom to get out more. I’m doing my duty as a faithful dog to show her a good time.

And I guess, if I’m honest, she’s doing the same for me.

I don’t think a dog could have a better time than I do when I’m at a park. Mom lets me sniff stuff, she’s not in a big hurry, but I move along right away if she says “leave it, let’s go.” I know there will be another good spot right up the path.

There always is.

I think that’s a lesson you humans should learn too. There’s always a good spot right up the path.

You can say you heard that here first, and thank me later.

Gotta run, mom’s waiting for me. Talk to you next time!

-Your Park Ranger Girl, Penny.