I bought a figure eight harness, adjustable, with an easy on off clip closure (with a cute little yin yang clip design). Just one. Figure "we'll test it out". I tried Grant first.

Grant: What? what? huh? Oh come ON! What is this? Heh, heh, hey that tickles! Heh, heh, stop that.

Karen: There we go! What a good boy! How do you like that?

Grant: (laying almost meatloaf style) I get it. This is like... well, what is this like? I don't know. Feels odd.

Karen: Here. Play with your sparkly toy! Look at the sparkly toy!

Grant: (eyes glowing) OOoooh, it's the sparkly toy, the sparkly toy! Ohhhhhh. HEY! I'm going in reverse! What, what is this? Ooohhh it's the sparkly toy! HEY! I want to go that way!

Karen decides this is enough "training" for one day. Not disaster. No flat ears. A little confusion. Not bad.

Next, Sugar gets a turn.

Karen: C'mon sweet girl. Wanna try the harness? C'mere.

Sugar: Oh maaaaaan! Ah, jeez. Don't ... oh OK, ALL RIGHT. Just put the damn thing on. I'm just gonna sit here.

Karen: Look at the sparkly toy Sugar! Come get the sparkly toy!

Sugar: (glaring) You can just wave that damn thing all you want, I'm NOT moving. I'll just sit here, thank you very much, until you decide to take this OFF me. Jeez. I can't believe it. (pause) Color's not bad.

Karen: Ooooo aren't you the pretty girl! Lookie here, look at the sparkly toy! Come and get it!

Sugar: I told you. I am *not* moving. OK, maybe I'll go into the dining room. (takes two tentative steps) Yick! This is just plain weird. Don't you think this is weird??? I think this is weird. Grant, this is weird.

I have mercy on Sugar. Comes off easier than it went on.

Karen: OK. You did good! You didn't fall over, or anything! YEAHHHHH!

Grant & Sugar: Yeahhhhhhhh. Where's supper?

Well, not bad for a first go. Not bad at all.

Copyright © Karen Chuplis
June 28, 2001