he knows lots of words including cookie treat dinner and lunch Plus he’s a very sweet dog and I think that’s the best kind of talent This year I wanted to teach Max a special trick Er Connor and I wanted to teach Max a special trick Connor is my little brother but he’d get grumpy if he heard me say that For the pet show Connor and I have taught Max how to do math Dogs know how to count I know this because I read it in a book I borrowed from the library Here is how we do our neat trick One of us asks Max a question like What’s two plus two The word plus is our cue word That means when Max hears it he springs into action He barks When he gets to the correct number Connor winks at him That is Max’s cue to stop barking Then I dance around to really let Max 2
know to stop barking Our trick is great but we aren’t perfect Sometimes Max gets really excited because he loves to bark so it is hard to get him to stop Lark Connor came into the family room He rubbed his eyes What are you doing up I woke up early to practice with Max for the show It’s too early said Connor You’re supposed to be sleeping It’s nine o’clock He shook his head No it’s only six Oops I have dyslexia which means I sometimes sometimes mix up letters and numbers I was so excited I guess I didn’t pay attention I said I scratched Max’s ears We better go to bed before we wake up Mom and Dad A grumpy mom plus a grumpy dad Oh no 3
arf arf arf
No Max said Connor But it was too late Max heard the cue word He started barking and barking and barking His tail was wagging so hard his rear end was swinging back and forth Connor tried winking Max Max Look at me He winked and winked and winked but Max was too happy and he liked barking too much I tried dancing but it didn’t make Max stop He just danced with me We heard a bedroom door open It banged against the wall Uh-oh 5
