So, what about this weekend? It’s been gorgeous. Temps in the 70s. Gentle breezes from the West. In my childhood, days like these would cause my mom to say, “Go outside and blow the stink off you.” And we would. She wouldn’t see us again until the street lights came on. This was definitely a “stink blowing” weekend in Kansas. We started by playing the Scout, Come game – an early training exercise that involves many kisses and much bacon (turkey bacon). We humans sit on the grass in a rough circle. By turn, we call to Scout. When she comes to us she receives her treats. She was very quick on the uptake and began running to us in order without being called. Clever Puppy! So, we had to start calling randomly. Then Harris ate all the bacon.

It was a lot of fun spent OUTSIDE! With tired legs and a full belly, on both Master and Puppy, Harris pulled out his latest read (Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan), and plopped on the grass. Scout crawled into his lap and the afternoon got peaceful.

Afterword: It’s 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. There’s been much running about and frisbee today. Nice times, so we’ve told the boys they can get on computer or Wii if they’d like to. Harris’s response? “Okay, but I’m taking my girl for a walk first.”

This is why we’ve insisted Harris handle Scout’s care – the feeding, brushing, walking, house-breaking. This is why Scout sleeps in Harris’ room. And I’ll tell you, for a kid who loved to sleep until noon, he hasn’t once complained about the 6:30 AM puppy potty calls. You see, devotion on one side can lead to devotion on the other. Hard work has rewards.

If you know us, you’re probably thinking this is a lame April Fool’s joke. A Shorkie? In the Bailey household? Well *face goes red* it’s true. You see, my husband and I like real dogs. Dogs that can carry the newspaper and the newspaper boy. Dogs that can sniff a visitor’s crotch without having to jump up. Dogs that don’t need clothes. And Scout? Well, she’s a Shorkie.

Ah, but there’s a reason behind the madness. You see, our middle son, Harris, has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of Autism. Scout is going to be his dog. He will be responsible for her. He will train her. He will be her everything. And she (hopefully) will be his companion, his focal point, his therapy dog.

Here’s the quick FAQ:

Q: You really think you can train a therapy dog?
A: Yes. The “why we think so” is another post.

Q: What if she doesn’t train to it?
A: Then she will just have to be a beloved family pet.

Q: Is Harris really ready for this? What if he gets bored after a week?
A: Harris is an incredibly responsible boy. If you understand the rules-oriented, black & white reasoning of an Aspy kid, you’ll know what I’m talking about. And if he does happen to get bored, or if Scout becomes a stress to him, instead of a comfort, see the answer above.

Q: Is this Shorkie breed a good fit for this line of “work”?
A: You never know what you’re going to get. There are reasons we like the idea of a smaller dog for Harris. Once again, that is another post. I have spent time with Scout’s mom and she is the mellowest, most intelligent, non-barkingest Yorkshire Terrier I know. Okay. She’s the only Yorkshire Terrier I know. But she’s impressive. I’ve not met the father, but from the evidence, he’s a scoundrel. Hasn’t helped out at all. We’re hoping Scout can rise above that. Here is a bit about the temperament of these two breeds.

Yorkshire Terrier: Brave, Loyal, Clever. A true Terrier. Eager for Adventure. Owner must provide Gentle Leadership.

Shih Tzu: Alert, Happy, Hardy, Playful. Likes to be with People. A Lap Dog. Owner must provide Strong Leadership.

We understand these breeds can develop Small Dog Syndrome, but we’re not nice people, so I don’t think we have to worry.

I’ll be blogging about this adventure often – how we are trying to help Harris with his Aspergers by raising and training a dog that can be responsive to our son’s needs. I hope you’ll follow our progress. It’s a new world for us and we’d like your company. I promise to be as transparent as I can. Ask questions if you want. Give advice if you think you can help. Negative comments or scorn can be kept to yourself.