Stupid Dogs! (Leviathan)

by **Bob Barton** on July 14th, 2011, 5:22 am

18th day of Summer

Fully rested from finishing the job Bob went over to Killroy's. The places were still relatively clean so he'll wait a while before doing it again. He did a good job getting rid of every piece of !@#$ in the stables and kennels but he wanted to wait a while before he had to do it again or he might risk exhaustion or overgiving. The wound on his hand from the bite has also been cleaned and dressed but Bob found himself every so often rubbing on it from discomfort.

He went in through the entrance but there was no one to be found there. So he walked around Killroy's for a bit to have a look see. If he was lucky maybe he'd run into something interesting today. Killroy still refused to tell him about the secret job but maybe there some other secrets to be uncovered?

So he was walking and walking in the inside and outside of the building. The dogs were running around the field and was being trained by Hannah. The ones he knew didn't like him started to growl at him when he stepped up to the fence. Maybe now is the time he should try and ask her for her help? Bob waved with his bandaged hand to try and get her attention over to him while shouting very loudly "Hey Hannah!" As soon as he said that the growling dogs started to bark very loudly and rush over to him. In fear Bob fell off the fence on the ground narrowly avoiding one of the dogs which jumped up and nearly bit him in the face.

by **Leviathan** on July 24th, 2011, 3:49 pm

The situation Bob found himself in was quite a terrifying one to be sure, but Hannah seemed quite amused by it herself. She grinned and giggled as she trotted over to the fence where Bob fell from. The dogs, yes they were quite vicious, but Hannah was training them to be guard dogs after all. It wasn't really a good idea to sneak up on a herd of Guard Dogs in training. All the ferocity without any of the restraint or care of human well-being. Hannah barked something at the dogs, some word in a language far too different from Common for Barton to comprehend, but nevertheless, the dogs peered up at Hannah, and trotted away as if she manually shut down their killer instincts.

"Hello Mr. Barton." Hannah smiled as she reached over the fence and offered her hand to her co-worker, pulling him upa nd helping him over the wooden fence (which could have easily been cleared if the dogs truly wanted to jump and kill Bob). "Try not to misunderstand them. I've been working with them very hard and they've yet to understand who is friendly. Killroy won't even get near them himself, so I find it more peaceful out here. Come on, let me show you to them."

Them of course were the dogs, and they seemed to be about a herd of every possible composition of dog in the Sylira region. Mutts and Ex-Strays they were, not a single one was a full blooded anything, yet not a single one seemed timid or incompetent for being a vicious killing machine. It almost seemed odd that Hannah, who was nothing but sweet and gentle, could make such a controlled monster out of the dogs, but she could.

The Dogs circled Bob and Hannah, sniffing and yelping playfully now that they were 'deactivated' by Hannah's command. Few of them didn't seem too interested in Bob, but more so the smells he brought from the city, yet there was one Shaggy Dog which was more than happy to see Bob as it literally jumped up, putting his muddy paws on Bartons stomach, and peered up at him through muddy long unkempt hair.

"Jinsen likes you. I found him two days ago, just wandering the streets. So Mr.Barton, what can I do for you today. Are you looking for Killroy?"

by **Bob Barton** on July 24th, 2011, 5:58 pm

Bob grasped Hannah's hand to get up, better to get help than waddle around like an undignified turtle on its back. The woman's grip was strong and made Bob wonder if he got the right job or not since he is not the picture of physical ability? Maybe he should look for a new one soon. But thanks to Hannah's help, Bob was able to clear the fence and brushed off the dirt on his clothes at the other side. Bob looked at the dogs who were now not trying to kill him then back at Hannah "You need to teach me how to do that. It will make my job a lot easier."

As he was being shown the dogs, Bob was remind of the one he left behind back at Zeltiva and was tempted to just go up to one and play around. The dogs now looked friendlier and happier which Bob felt relieved. If Hannah did not call them off earlier he knew that them circling him with their eyes trained on him would be a prelude to an attack rather than just satisfying their curiosity to a newcomer. Bob was about to go up to one of them to try and try his luck when he was pounced on by another dog he did not notice earlier.

Right, so the dog was quite attractive with its messy hair and the fact that its not trying to kill Bob yet really appealed to him. He'd just take the muddy clothes over a bloodied one. So he just tried to pet a little and spoke softly so only it could hear "Two days huh? No wonder I haven't met you yet Jinsen. If only everyone was as good as you." Then still playing around with Jinsen, Bob looked back at Hannah and replied "No, actually I am looking for you. I tried to take care of the dogs the other day and it was...lets just say it didn't really go so well. I am hoping that maybe you can help me out? Maybe teach me what you know."

by **Leviathan** on August 2nd, 2011, 5:48 pm

Hannah had a wary look about her when Bob mentioned he was searching for her rather than Killroy, but the moment he explained himself Hannah sighed and nodded. "Of course I can Mr. Barton. But, I must say you are already doing so well. To train dogs you must have their respect." Hannah knelt down to pet one of the dogs excessively, many others thought it best to crowd around her to try and squeeze into getting a bit of attention themselves. "It's not much different than people Mr. Barton. If someone fears you, they'll obey you. Same for love. If they adore you, idolize you, they'll do as you ask." It wasn't hard to tell which emotion the dogs felt for Hannah. She obviously didn't approve of the more brutal and harsh methods of fear.

"Take Jinsen everywhere with you while you're here at teh kennels. Talk to him like he's a friend you can understand. Share secrets with him, make him happy when he does something right, and discipline him when he does something unacceptable. I don't accept violence Mr. Barton, the dogs can confuse that for neglect or misunderstand. It's up to you to find a way to teach him not to do wrong." Hannah stood up again, then speaking another word in some foreign tongue all the dogs sat down on the ground and just peered up at her with expectation. The took Bob's hand and walked, Jinsen alone followed, the only untrained dog of the group. "He hasn't learned any commands, but he's already loyal, as all dogs are designed to be by Caiyha. Befriend him, that's what you need to do first. Dogs know when you are upset or happy, they can tell if you lie to them, so love them in truth, not just in act. From there it's just a matter of time before he understands commands."

For the third time, hannah spoke in that foreign language, and all the dogs, excluding Jinsen who was still at Bob's heels, darted out of the yard and into the kennel. She grinned as she watched them bark and race inside. These dogs could be as harmless as puppies, or vicious as direwolves if you tried them. "I'm not going to get into specific tricks now Mr. Barton. Just be with Jinsen. He's yours now. If he likes you tomorrow, he'll stay with you, if not, he'll probably come back to me."

by **Bob Barton** on August 2nd, 2011, 7:17 pm

Bob chuckled when Hannah said he was doing the job well. Remembering what has happened for the past few days, he recalled being barked at, bitten, pounced, jumped and attack. "If what I am doing is well, I hate to see someone who is doing it badly" Bob chuckled again. "Still people don't respect me, what more dogs who I still cannot understand?" Bob asked hoping to get something more he could use. Actually the part about lack of respect was never about his size though people would think of that but rather his personality which is rather...different...

When Hannah took his hand Bob followed, only to turn behind and see all the dogs save Jinsen was following. "Damn! I should have paid attention and listened to what she had said. Then maybe I could do that to the dogs next time." Bob thought to himself, cursing for his lack of attention. So Bob looked back at Jinsen wondering. How can the dog suddenly become loyal when they only met today? Maybe its the feeling when they get a new toy? Bob couldn't really think that much about that. As Hannah was explaining, Bob who was so lost in his thoughts that he just nodded at everything she said.

Bob was thinking so much about Jinsen that he missed the command Hannah gave the dogs again and cursed himself even more harshly as he watched them going in. Now with Hannah he just confirmed what he was going to do for the day, and maybe some extra tips. "So I just take him with him...uhhh talk and discipline him? Thats all it will take for him to like me?" Bob didn't really believe in the part of telling the dog his secrets. Would the dog even understand what the secret means in the first place? Maybe he heard Hannah wrong. Then he looked back at Jinsen thinking about how he will be following for the day. On the bright side, it at least looks like the dog won't be trying to eat Bob like all the others.

by **Bob Barton** on August 30th, 2011, 4:38 pm

Hannah just left and Bob was stuck alone, with the dog Jinsen. He squatted down to the level of the dog and just looked at it. The strange fluffy creature looking back for reasons only Bob could wonder. So the first lesson was to talk to it like a friend? Bob scratched the back of his head. The idea itself sounds...stupid. But he had nothing to lose. Squatted down he clasped his hands on his knees to balance himself. "So...Jinsen...any idea of what we should do now?" Bob Barton talking to a dog. Forget about the dogs, the man himself is going to the birds.

Either Jinsen understood or his doggy brain did what he wanted to do the first time he saw Bob. Again with muddy paws first he jumped at Bob right at the face. Dirty paws on clothes is something Bob did not like and he reacted very hastily. "Why you little...get of me!" in a rather loud tone. Jinsen was taken aback by this sudden outburst and stared at Bob before running off. "Wait hold on! Don't run." Bob called out from behind with his hand stretched out like it would help in any way. So much for making the dog happy.

At least the place was fenced up so Jinsen cannot get very far. Bob got up and started chasing the dog. In the sweetest voice he could get out of him and the broadest smile he could use he went after Jinsen. "Here Jinsen, nice Jinsen. Bob is sorry. Please stop running and come back?" With a face like that of course Jinsen backed away even more. Smiling with teeth shown like that looks just like another animal.

How could Hannah think that Bob could train an animal? All he does every day is clean them up and...feed them... Thats it! The dogs no matter how much they hated Bob always loved food. And that is what he will give Jinsen. Quickly he left Jinsen alone in the fenced area and went to the place the dog food was kept. He poured as much as he could on the bowl until it was filled and brought it back with him. Hopefully the dog will accept his peace offering.

Next time Bob would have to plan things better. It was easy to feed the dogs in their kennels since it was the same spot as their food was. But this? He had to carry the full bowl right to the field. And he had to do it carefully to make sure it does not spill. That would only mean more work for him to clean. So he to strain his eyes to split his attention between bowl and ground. The bowl so that it will he held upright properly and not spill. The ground because outside was very uneven. Bob had to carefully place his foot on the flat parts of the ground properly to make sure he does not trip and fall. Finally he made his way to Jinsen.

by **Bob Barton** on August 30th, 2011, 6:27 pm

The bowl was placed on the ground as slowly as Bob could allow it to make sure that the food won't tip over. And with the food at his feet, he waved at Jinsen to call it over to him. "Here Jinsen. Here is some food. Bob is your friend see? He isn't going to hurt you" The dog just stared at Bob again but did not even take one step forward. Really...for just one mistake a dog is going to treat Bob like this? He was even more fickle than half the people Bob knew. And thats saying a lot because the people he knew were a little strange.

Great, just great. Bob decided that he wanted the dog to eat the food and make up but even that was hard. Jinsen was not going to come close to the food if Bob was there and if Bob got closer to Jinsen he will just back away. Its time for the third option. Bob started to back away. Keeping his eyes on Jinsen he waved at the food. "Its yours see? The food is yours. Why don't you eat it?"

Once Bob was far enough from the food, Jinsen started walking towards it. But everytime he stopped the dog stopped as well. What is this really? Does the dog have some set distance to keep away from Bob? Its almost like the dog was training Bob instead of the other way around. Fine, Bob will play your little games Jinsen. But just remember, Bob has the food. So Bob continued moving backwards until Jinsen was finally eating the food from the bowl.

Bob sat on the ground. Waiting and waiting until Jinsen finished his food. That was really messy. Jinsen dived in face first on the food and chowed it down. Getting food all over him and the ground all over. Maybe this was one of those things Bob had to train it to do. Eat properly? But the only reward he could think of was food. How can he train a dog to eat its reward?

Well if he was going to help Jinsen with its eating habits first, Bob was going to have to get to the food first. Bob stood up and saw that Jinsen was staring at him. Then he started going forward one step after the other. At each step, Jinsen started growling louder and louder and bared his teeth. Obviously he was trying to protect his food from Bob not that he knew that. Bob actually thought that Jinsen was still angry at him so he lifted his hands slowly and made a motion to push the air to try and calm the angry dog down. "There, there. I gave you the food so that means I am a friend right?" To help get his intents across he smiled. But probably a half assed one with his lips curved instead of the teeth because his mind was worried that this time the only dog who might not have killed him in the Kennels might do just that.

by **Bob Barton** on August 30th, 2011, 9:40 pm

Jinsen allowed Bob to get close. That was good. So Bob went and squatted down again. He was going to try and get a new start with the dog. So its back to the beginning when he probably angered it. Jinsen was still growling at Bob and as Bob went down so did Jinsen's body. Following to try and guard its food with its body from anyone else who may touch or take it.

Bob sighed. "What did I do to deserve this..." A purely rhetorical question that he was not expecting the dog to answer. He already knew the answer from the start. Well, he got this far so might as well go all the way. Time to try and teach Jinsen how to eat more tidily.

When he reached his hand out towards the bowl of food, Jinsen stopped growling. Finally. Some leeway. Bob smiled at his supposed success. But Jinsen only stopped to prepare himself to attack as his jaws snapped in front of Bob's hand. A warning for another attack that Bob should keep away from the food as much as possible. In instinct Bob drew his hand back away from the dog. "What do you want me to do then you st-" Lucky Bob was able to stop himself before he finished his sentence. Friends were not supposed to cuss other friends and that is exactly what he wanted the dog to think of him as.

This time instead of going for the food, maybe Bob should go and calm down Jinsen. Who knows how excited the dog was at this point. Jinsen's eyes were on Bob's hand warily as he extended his arm towards the dog. "Now how did Hannah do this do you remember?" he asked the dog. Well, if he was doing it right he would know from the dog's reaction. Hannah petted that other dog excessively so Bob did the same.

Bob's hand carefully went to Jinsen's body and stroked and petted it. As he did he tried to talk as softly as possible. "You like your food don't you Jinsen? Don't you? So eat up as much as you want." Once it looked like the dog was not glaring at Bob and focused on eating its food, his hand traveled upwards and started to pet the head.

Once he was sure he had Jinsen from the comfortable sounds it was making, Bob moved to getting to the food. With one hand focused on the petting, the other went to the food. Jinsen growled again but Bob continued. Hoping that the dog won't attack him...yet... "I only want to teach you how to eat properly." At the rate Jinsen was going it was going to choke itself. Or even worse mess up Bob's clothes even more. Certainly he cannot have either of that.

by **Bob Barton** on August 31st, 2011, 4:17 am

Finally Bob's hand was able to reach in and grab a chunk of food out. Then slowly he stopped petting Jinsen and used that hand to grab the bowl and slide if out of under the dog. As expected, Jinsen started to growl at Bob again. Not giving the chance for the dog to snap at him again, Bob brought the hand with the food right in front of the dog. He must have stooped really low if he had to resort to feeding the dog like it was a baby.

Jinsen was still wary of Bob, sniffing at the open hand with food on it before deciding to do anything. Who could blame it after what Bob did earlier? But at last it started eating from Bob's hand. "Please don't bite my hand off." Bob managed to plead. The tongue and teeth moving along the hand felt weird and Bob had to do everything to restrain himself from wiggling his hand off. Why Jinsen, why must you eat so messily?

Oh wait, Jinsen was eating messily. The exact same reason Bob was trying to teach it how to eat slower. Bob moved his hands away from the feeding dog which only made it look at Bob's face a little dumbfounded. "Eat slower. E-at S-lo-we-r." Bob said. Lips moving a lot more slower so that hopefully the message would get through to the dog. There was no other way he knew that he could use to communicate with the animal.

Thinking that the dog finally got the message, Bob scooped up more food and put his hand in front of Jinsen. "Remember, E-at S-lo-..." Before Bob could finish his sentence the dog started chomping down on the food again. What did Bob have to do. Eat the food so that Jinsen could see? No way. Not going to happen. That will be where he draws the line.

Bob will keep doing this until Jinsen learns! It is only for his own good. Bob withdrew his hand getting the same dumbfounded look from Jinsen. An added bonus it started whimpering. Was that begging? Bob did not even want to teach Jinsen that yet, not to mention it was degrading. Bob pointed at his lips and repeated his actions from earlier. "Jinsen, you have to eat slower. You hear me? Ea-t Sl-ow-er." This time making a better effort to mimic slow movements of the lips.

There was a sense of accomplishment and relief then when Jinsen started eating slightly more slower. Bob could tell, actually feel it. The creepy feeling of the dog's tongue and teeth moving on his hands was indeed less. At least now he can get his arm to rest. Holding up food for dog's was hard work. Once Jinsen finished the food in Bob's hand, he pushed the bowl which was about empty to the dog. A reward for learning the lesson well.

by **Bob Barton** on August 31st, 2011, 4:42 am

After the dog finished eating Bob had to find something else to do. How long could a dog be eating. Not for a whole day. And even if it did, it will become fat and useless. The blame would go to Bob who was supposed to take care of it for the day. When Jinsen started to look at Bob probably to ask for more food, Bob just shook his head. "No more food. At least not until later." Bob was pretty much at a loss since the only thing he could think of was using food. So just like the start, Bob asked Jinsen again. "So what do you want to do now?" If he had to put so much effort in just to try and reach an understanding with the dog, the least it could do was help Bob.

And again as much as Bob hated it, Jinsen pounced on him with muddy paws. This time since Bob was pretty close squatting on the ground, the dog's paws reached very close to his face. "Well looks like this is the next thing I should teach you." Is to not touch Bob with muddy paws. Or at least touch the parts he wouldn't care about.

Bob had some experience with babies from helping with his uncle's job. Maybe teaching a dog can be like teaching babies? He grasped each of Jinsen's paws firmly. But not hard enough to hurt. Only enough to get its attention. "No, no Jinsen. If you need to touch you need to touch..." Where would be an acceptable place for Bob to let the dog touch him?

In the end he decided that the legs would do. That place gets dirty easily and no one looks at the bottom first. Especially when it comes to Bob. Looking towards his bottom still brings their eyes to his body. Bob lifted Jinsen's paws from his body and put them to his legs. "This is a good place to touch Jinsen." But as soon as he let go, Jinsen put his paws on Bob's body. That was alright. Bob will work with the dog until it learnt that much.

Most of the rest of the time involved Bob standing up, Jinsen pouncing on him and then Bob squatting back to move Jinsen's paws to his legs. Until finally. The dog pounced on Bob's legs when he stood up. A smile got on Bob's face. "Good boy Jinsen." Now how was he going to reward him? Bob did not want to resort to food for the reasons he thought of earlier. So he just petted Jinsen as he held on to Bob with paws on the legs.