My sister has a wonderful dog named Cody. Cody is an Australian shepherd. He is intelligent, faithful, and well-behaved. From the first time I met him, I have liked the dog and he likes me. Once, when we were still living in South Dakota, Cody stayed in our home for a short while as my sister went to visit a friend in Minnesota who was living in a home too small for a human guest and a dog. Although our yard was not fenced, we got along just fine. Cody loves to chase balls, sticks, frisbees, or any other object thrown. He comes when I call him and he didn’t run into the street. His one quirk seems to be that he barks loudly at all garbage trucks and delivery vans. He will occasionally bark at school busses as well. I can’t seem to get him to stop barking when the garbage trucks are in the neighborhood.

Cody is living with us for a while. My sister is visiting her daughter who is going to have a baby soon and she needs to be able to focus her attention on the new little one and the needs of the mother. We have a fenced back yard. We walk every day. And we live just down the road from our son’s farm where there are large fields in which Cody can run and chase objects that I throw. As a bonus, he has no interest in the chickens at our son’s farm, so we don’t have to worry about him chasing them.

When Susan and I go to work or are away from our home, Cody waits in the back yard and other than barking at garbage trucks he is no bother to the neighbors. If it rains, he can go underneath our deck to keep dry, though he doesn’t seem to have too much interest in staying dry.

Cody and I have been having several conversations lately.

Me: Seriously, Cody, that recliner isn’t your chair. It is mine. I like to sit in it and read. You can lie on the floor.
Cody: I don’t see what makes the chair yours. It is comfortable and you can see that it is just the right size for me.
Me: I’m not going to argue. I had an argument with a cat over that chair once and that is how the scratches got on it.
Cody: You let a cat in your house?
Me: That was a long time ago, before I even met you.
Cody: If a cat has been in this chair, I don’t want to sit here.

Cody: Did someone forget to feed the dog?
Me: There is a fresh scoop of dog food in your bowl.
Cody: (taking one kibble and then spitting it on the floor) Where’s the topping?
Me: What topping?
Cody: You put cheese on my food this morning.
Me: That was a special treat. You don’t get cheese every time you eat.
Cody: (lying down next to the door) I can wait.
Me: (putting cheese on the dog food) You’re really getting spoiled.

Cody: Why aren’t you throwing the ball for me? I brought it to you so you can play. I work so hard to entertain you and you don’t seem to appreciate my efforts.
Me: I’ve thrown that ball at least 25 times. You’re panting. You need a break.
Cody: One more, one more, just throw it one more time.
Me: (as Cody runs to catch the ball and then keeps going and jumps into the pond) Cody! Stay out of the pond.
Cody: I’m hot and the pond feels good.
Me: It’s winter.
Cody: It’s 55 degrees out. There is no ice on the water.
Me: Now my truck is going to smell like wet dog.
Cody: No extra charge for the improvement.
Me: Here, sit on this towel.
Cody: (turning around several times and wadding the towel into a little ball that fits under his front paws as he sits his wet behind on the seat) Thanks!
Me: Don’t mention it.
Cody: You know I prefer to ride in the front seat.
Me: Not a chance. Don’t even think of it or you’ll end up in the box.
Cody: You don’t dare. I’ll tell your sister.
Me: Sit down and be quiet.
Cody: I don’t see why I can’t sit in the front seat.
Me: Don’t push it.

Cody: (pushing open the bathroom door and barging right in)
Me: Cody! Can’t I have a little privacy?
Cody: I don’t mind.
Me: I’m taking a bath.
Cody: Don’t get up for me.
Me: Cody! You have a water dish, why are you drinking out of the toilet?
Cody: You only put fresh water in that dish twice a day. This thing has fresh water all the time.
Me: It isn’t for you.
Cody: I can smell that you marked it. So what? I don’t see why you get to mark inside and I have to go outside.
Me: Yuck!
Cody: (going out and coming back with a ball in his mouth) Want to play?
Me: Cody, I’m not throwing that ball for you right now. Put it down.
Cody: (spitting the ball into the tub) Here, I’ll make it easy for you.
Me: Hey! I don’t want that dirty thing in here. I’m trying to get clean.
Cody: The ball is clean. I just had it in my mouth.
Me: (scooping up the ball and depositing it on the bath mat) I’m not throwing it.
Cody: I don’t see why. You are such a strange creature. I share everything with you and you don’t even want to play.

Me: (tripping over Cody’s bed) Your bed it huge!
Cody: It isn’t as big as yours.
Me: It is always in the way.
Cody: I wouldn’t need it if you’d let me sleep in your bed.
Me: Don’t even think of it. It isn’t going to happen.
Cody: I can wait until you are asleep.
Me: Don’t you dare!

I really love the dog. He is a wonderful companion for my sister and mostly a very good house guest. He is fun to be around and keeps me laughing. But don’t try arguing with him. I was never any good at arguing with cats, either.