Carolyn Holm

Dear Poppy,
I notice that you are right at the door when I get home. Before I even put the key in the lock! How do you know it’s me? We live in a busy neighborhood – there are people parking in front and walking by all the time.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That’s so easy! I hear the beep-beep of your car when your clicker locks it. Dogs know this stuff.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Doesn’t it sound the same as Bob’s car, right across the street?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
It’s a different sound. Dogs know this stuff.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Ok, I’m impressed. What else do dogs know? For instance, what do dogs know about squirrels?
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
Dogs know EVERYTHING about squirrels.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Everything? That’s a lot to know.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know there is only one thing to do with squirrels. CHASE THEM!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I guess that covers it.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And dogs know lots of other stuff. Dogs know the sound of the delivery truck. It’s a heads-up situation when it stops in front of our house.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It is indeed. I appreciate the announcement bark.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And the sound of the mailbox opening when the mailman pushes stuff in it.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Ok, that brings on another helpful announcement bark.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom
Dogs know which leash belongs to them! This leash is my special leash!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It is indeed. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know the difference between your house shoes, your going-for-a-walk shoes, and your going-out-without-me shoes.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You do pay special attention to shoes.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know which pocket has the dog treats. And if your hand is in that pocket, a treat is coming!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I’ve noticed that! When I call you to come in from the garden, I find I get a much faster response when I have my hand in that pocket.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know that cat poop is delicious.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Ewwww. No comment.
Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And dogs know when it is 5:00.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Your dinner time. Somehow without a watch you do know exactly when it is 5:00. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Puffin knows that too. Even though he is not a dog. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Puffin is a very smart cat. Cats know stuff too.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know what the oven does!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You do? What do you think ovens do?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
The oven changes the way food smells!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Fair enough, it does do that.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Dogs know that most lamps need a human hand to make light, but some lamps magically make light all by themselves.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s because we have timers on a couple of our lamps. Remember Molly, the little terrier who was very elderly when you came to us? She was extremely alarmed by the magic of lamp timers. She never got used to that idea – she was startled every time.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Of course I remember Molly! She’s the one who told me to watch out for those weird lamps. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
She knew it was unnatural for a lamp to turn on by itself. Molly was the smartest dog I’ve ever known. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I’m not the smartest dog? 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You are the softest, sweetest dog I’ve ever known.
Love, Carolyn 

Dear Mom,
But I know all the dog stuff.
XOXO Poppy

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A note to our readers…

Poppy, Winston, and Puffin are looking forward to sharing their weekly correspondence with you! Each week one of them is featured here, all based upon actual conversations. And yes, you can get the week’s post conveniently in your email every Friday by subscribing in the subscriber box at the top of this page. (If you are reading this in an email, go to blog.carolynholm.com to subscribe.) If you have already subscribed, multiple paws are raised to salute you!