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- Herausgeber: Little Tiger Press
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Serie: Puppy Club
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
Welcome to Puppy Club!Join Jaya, Willow, Daniel, Elsa, Arlo and Harper as they all navigate the ups and downs of life with a brand-new puppy!When Jaya's aunt reveals that Underdogs Rescue Centre needs funding for a new wing of kennels, the Puppy Clubbers have the perfect solution: a sponsored dog walk! There's only one problem. Arlo's puppy Dash is always racing about, and despite attending training classes, shows no signs of slowing down.Arlo is trying all he can to get Dash to work with him. Will he learn to listen in time to join the others on the Waggy Tails Walk?A heart-warming new series for young animal-loving readers, perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Helen Peters.
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3
For Jane, a brilliant puppy (and human!) trainer CJ
For Honey and Millie RS
Contents
5
Chapter One
“And the winner of this year’s Britain’s Best Baker is…”
Arlo stroked Dash’s curly blonde head, his puppy fast asleep on his lap, his eyes glued to the TV. The whole family – Dad, step-mum Sue and step-sister Sophie – had gathered to watch the final of his favourite TV show.
“I bet it’s Alexander,” Sophie piped 7up. “His solar system showstopper was amazing!”
Arlo shook his head. “I reckon it’ll be Cathy’s lemon drizzle waterfall!”
“…Cathy!” the presenter announced.
“Told you!” cried Arlo, waking Dash, who leaped off his lap and began racing round the room, barking excitedly.
“I’d love to be on Britain’s Best Baker!” said Arlo. “Imagine spending weeks on end baking delicious treats!”
Sophie licked her lips. “And eating them!”
“You’d both ace that bit!” Sue laughed.
“Hey, Dash! Calm down!” cried Dad, as the puppy zoomed past the coffee table, his tail flicking dangerously close to a mug of tea. “I think it’s time for a walk. This puppy has far too much energy!” 8
Arlo stood up. “Dash! Walkies!” As usual, Dash ignored him.
Dad shook his head. “Dash is nearly five months old. He needs to start coming when called or we’ll never be able to let him off the lead.”
Arlo felt a niggle of worry – Dad was right. He tried again. “Dash! Come!”
But Dash darted behind the sofa, thinking it was some great game.
“Dash!” cried Arlo. “How are we going to do a puppy training class if you won’t even come?”
Dash and his five brothers and sisters were booked in for their first training session on Tuesday. The Puppy Clubbers had been looking forward to it for weeks but the nearer it got the 9more nervous Arlo felt – how would Dash cope?
“You go that end, I’ll go this,” said Dad, moving towards the sofa. Dash watched them, tail wagging. Just as Arlo reached out a hand, he dived through Dad’s legs and bounded out of the room.
“Come back!” Arlo yelled, chasing Dash into the kitchen and round the island, until finally, with a little help from Dad, he caught him. Arlo fastened on Dash’s new harness, which was meant to stop him pulling, and tightened the Velcro strap. Then he clipped on his lead. Immediately, Dash began straining towards the front door.
“Wait! Heel!” Arlo called hopelessly. Once they were outside, Dash woofed with joy, leaping up at Arlo before tugging him towards the street.
Dad watched as Dash pulled on his harness. “Do you want me to take him?” 10
“I’m OK,” Arlo called, double looping the lead over his hand, just in case. “Dash! Heel!” he said firmly. The puppy ignored him. Arlo gritted his teeth. “Stop pulling,” he pleaded, but Dash continued to veer this way and that, zigzagging across the pavement and getting dangerously close to the road.
“Those puppy training classes can’t come soon enough,” said Dad, as Dash pulled Arlo up a garden path. “If he doesn’t— Oh! Hello, Daniel!”
Arlo looked up to see his best friend Daniel coming round the corner with his mum. Teddy, Dash’s brother, was trotting calmly beside them. Calmly that is, until he spotted Dash!
The moment they saw each other the puppies began yapping excitedly, crouching down opposite each other in a play bow, before leaping forwards, overjoyed to be reunited. As they tumbled over one another, Daniel’s mum tried to untangle their leads. “Brotherly love, eh?” 11
Daniel grinned. “How’s it going?”
Arlo shook his head as Dash’s lead twirled around Teddy’s. “He’s pulling worse than ever this evening.”
12“You’re lucky Teddy’s so good,” Dad told Daniel’s mum.
“Teddy’s no angel either,” she replied. “He’s really greedy!”
Daniel nodded. “We have to stop him from eating scraps off the pavement!”
Arlo and Dad laughed.
“We’re hoping to get some help with Dash’s pulling at the class on Tuesday,” said Dad. “If he’s tugging Arlo’s arm off now, imagine what he’ll be like in a few months when he’s bigger!”
“I bet Dash will be a quick learner,” Daniel said reassuringly.
Arlo sighed. “I’m not sure about—”
His words were drowned out by a motorbike whizzing by, its engine growling noisily. Both puppies let out a startled yap and raced for the safety of Arlo and Daniel’s legs. 13
Arlo bent down and picked up a trembling Dash.
“Don’t worry. I’m here,” he whispered, stroking Dash’s head.
Dash licked Arlo’s nose as if to say “Phew!” then wriggled down and began pulling him away, up the street.
“Here we go again.” Dad strode after them. “Roll on Tuesday!”
“See you at Underdogs tomorrow!” Daniel called after Arlo.
As they neared home, Dash finally seemed to calm down and Arlo allowed himself to relax. But as they turned the corner into their road, a cat suddenly darted across the pavement in front of them.
“Whoa!” Arlo cried, jerking forwards as Dash took off after it. 14
Dad moved in and grabbed the lead, holding Dash back as the cat flew under a bush.
“Watch out,” cried Arlo. “Dash is slipping his harness! Don’t let him escape!”
Dad bent down to check the strap. “It must have come loose with all the pulling. We need to keep an eye on that.”
Once the straps were tight, Arlo took the lead again but the sense of calm had vanished. One of the things he’d been looking forward to most about getting a puppy was taking him for walks, but at the moment, they were just so stressful.
Back inside, Arlo took Dash through to the kitchen and took off his harness. The puppy barked happily and lay down on his back. Arlo laughed. “Oh! So you want a tummy rub now, do you?”
“Woof!” Dash replied.
Arlo sat beside him, any worries melting away as he stroked Dash’s furry tummy. “I 15chose you because you’re so full of beans! But when we’re out walking, can you please try to be a bit calmer?”
16Dash stared up at him with his big brown eyes, as if trying to understand.
Arlo smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure the training sessions will help. And soon you’ll be walking to heel, the same as your brothers and sisters.” After all, training couldn’t be that hard, could it?
Chapter Two
“Hey, Arlo, did you watch the final of Britain’s Best Baker last night?” asked Elsa.
Arlo grinned. “Of course!”
“You should go on it,” said Daniel.
“I wish!” Arlo replied. “Weeks of endless baking … and tasting!”
It was Saturday morning and the Puppy Clubbers were counting out the lunch bowls in the storeroom at 18Underdogs, the rescue centre run by Jaya’s auntie Ashani.
The door opened and Joe, one of the volunteers, appeared carrying a tool kit.
“What’s that for?” asked Willow.
“I’m doing some repairs to the kennels. Fixing the hinges and making sure they’re secure.”
19Elsa’s eyes widened. “That sounds serious.”
Joe nodded as Ashani backed into the room, lugging a sack of dog food behind her. “Hi, guys! How are the repairs going, Joe?”
“To be honest,” said Joe, “a lot of the kennels could do with a full refurb!”
Ashani nodded. “I know. But for now, I’m afraid we’ll have to make do and mend – we just don’t have the money.”
“Are you OK, Auntie?” Jaya asked, noticing her aunt didn’t seem her usual cheery self.
Ashani heaved the sack on to the counter. “I’m fine. It’s just I’m going to have to turn another dog away as we don’t have the room. A gorgeous dachshund. His owner will have to take him to a centre over an hour’s drive away. 20It’s heartbreaking.”
Arlo stared at Ashani. He’d never seen her look so upset.
“If only you could renovate that spare outbuilding,” said Joe. “It would house another ten dogs, I reckon.”
Ashani rubbed her eyes wearily. “We can’t even afford to renovate the old kennels, let alone refurbish a whole new building! I’ve applied for some funding from the council but we won’t hear about it for months.” She gave them a tired smile. “Anyway, that’s for me to worry about, not you. Now, Puppy Clubbers, how are you getting on with the lunch bowls?”
“Just finished,” said Elsa. “Can we say hello to the dachshund?”
Everyone looked hopefully at Ashani who hesitated then smiled. “OK, just a quick one. His name’s Bingo.” 21
They followed Ashani to Reception, where Bingo was waiting on his lead, next to his owner. The little black-and-ginger sausage dog snuffled his nose into Harper’s hand when she bent down to pat him. “Hello! Aren’t you cute!”
