"A dog's eye view"
Written by Cyndi Fryar
Bear, Commander Kennit's dog.

Waking up from a nice, warm comfortable nap Bear stretched his front legs and yawned. Then he stretched his back legs and yawned again. That done, he gave himself a good rousing shake and settled his fur nicely as he licked his nose to moisten the slightly dry skin. Pausing to listen a moment, he decided that his person hadn't returned yet.

Jumping down off of the bed, he padded across the carpeted floor into the other room and crossed to where he knew that his person had left a bowl of water and a small bowl of dry food for him to eat. Personally, Bear would rather share some of his person's dinner than eat that dry stuff however since he was hungry and she wasn't around to beg from..

Lapping up a little cool water, Bear turned his attention to the rather unappetizing bowl of dry food. He sniffed at it experimentally, then picked through the various flavored bits of food only eating those he liked while leaving the others untouched. A singular talent he had, according to his person anyway. Where was she anyway? His back itched, just above his tail where it was almost impossible to scratch himself but where She could scratch with amazing talent. Having eaten what he wanted, Bear now padded back to the middle of the room and looked around. Spying his favorite bouncy squeaky ball, his tail (which he carried curled up over his back causing the soft long hairs on his tail to fall over his hindquarters quite attractively) started to wag and the little dog bounded forward and pounced on the toy which gave out a quite delightful "SQUEAK!" sound as his paws trapped it.

Using his front paws to flip the toy up it the air, Bear bounded after it with a little joyful bark as he 'attacked' it again. Biting down on the toy, his entire body wriggled in glee at the high-pitched squeaks and squawks which came out with each bite. So focused on his little game, Bear didn't really notice that he'd gone from the main room back into the bedroom. At least, not until he got a look at the OTHER dog trying to get *HIS* toy!!!

His fur instantly stood up along his neck and back as Bear let loose with as fierce a growl as his little 9lb body could produce. Stiff legged, he crossed the short distance between him and the other dog who by the way was ALSO now crossing towards him with hackles raised and teeth showing - when the intruder was only two feet away, Bear growled furiously and lunged foward to bite the intruder dog. Snapping at the other dog's nose, Bear let out a surprised yip as HIS nose hit something hard, cold and definately NOT a dog!

Feeling a little foolish, angry and frustrated.. Bear glared at the other dog. The other dog glared right back at him! Growling again, Bear barked now as he tried to bite the stranger and again found himself unable to connect because of the odd barrier between them. Growling and barking at the top of his tiny lungs now, Bear decided he was going to just go around this blasted barrier and then kick that strange dogs furry rearend all over the room! He was going to show that other dog who the boss was!!

Whirling, he followed the barrier to its edge and then barked again in gleeful anticipation of getting to finally bite the other dog only to pause in puzzled frustration. There was no sign of the other dog, just the inside of his persons closet!

Puzzled, Bear turned to look for the strange dog and spotted him again behind the weird barrier. Again, he tried to find him..

This went on for almost fifteen minutes as Bear spied himself in the long, full length mirror secured to the door of the closet and then searched the interior of said closet in vain, searching for the intruder and not able to find any signs of another dog and only scenting his person and himself. Only to go out of the closet and damned if that other dog wasn't standing there smug as can be!!

It wasn't until he was panting, hot and tired and his nose was sore as can be from hitting the mirror that Bear finally gave up and stalked off to back to the other room. Finding his rawhide chew bone, he picked it up and carried it to the couch where after gettting himself comfortably settled on the pillows there he started to chew his bone. Every now and then, his sore nose reminded him of the stranger and he'd growl to himself before forgetting again and returning to his chew bone happily.