Page 60 of Keeping Knight

Daisy jolts slightly, like she’s about to leap for the toy. Her body vibrates with excitement. But she doesn’t move. Instead, she glances up at Evie with a pleading gaze.

If I could read Daisy’s mind, I’d bet she’s thinking, Okay. I stayed. Can I have the toy now? Please?

Evie smiles affectionately at the puppy. “Not yet.”

“Turn around,” Micah says. “See if she’ll take the toy when she thinks you're not watching.”

“Okay,” Evie replies. Turning her attention back to Daisy, Evie holds her hand up in a gesture to stay. “Stay.” Then Evie turns around so her back is to Daisy.

Micah pulls me close to his side and says quietly, “This is a tough one. But it’s a good indicator of how Daisy’s training is coming along.”

Daisy looks tempted. So tempted by the lure of the Kong toy that her butt hovers an inch or so off the ground, and her tail swishes madly across the carpet. Still, she stays.

“How old is she again?” I whisper to Micah.

“Four months,” he replies. “Still a baby.”

“Look at her.” I lift my chin at Daisy. “If her tail moves any faster…”

Micah chuckles. “She loves that toy, doesn’t she?”

After twenty seconds or so, Evie turns back around. She glances at the Kong toy at her feet, and then at Daisy, still sitting several feet away. With a smile, Evie exclaims brightly, “Good girl! Good Daisy!” Scooping up the toy, she adds, “Break,” while tossing it into the air.

In a blur of movement, Daisy leaps for the toy and catches it midair. Once she lands, she shakes the toy hard while growling at it. Then she takes off across the room, making little puppy hops as she goes. Every few feet, she stops to squeak the toy and shake it again. As she races in circles around the living room, Sampson watches from his dog bed, his posture relaxed but alert.

“She has so much energy,” I say with a laugh. “I’m tired just watching her.”

Evie makes a little tell me about it face as she nods. “She sure does. I have to run her for a good thirty minutes every night or she won’t settle down. And that’s on top of her training and all the walks she gets.”

“She lives with you, right?” I ask.

“She does,” Evie replies with a smile. “And she’s a great roommate, aside from the boundless energy right before bedtime part.”

Evie is one of the employees in the Canine Services division, and according to Micah, she’s been taking lead on training their newest puppy recruit. “Evie’s our most recent addition to Canine Services,” Micah explained before she came over. “She’s an experienced handler, but she doesn’t have as much training experience. So working with Daisy is helpful for both of them.”

“Daisy will work primarily with Evie,” Micah explains. “Depending on the specialty Daisy shows an affinity for, one of the other handlers may help with her training.”

Evie whistles, and Daisy comes to a screeching halt halfway across the living room. Her attention jumps to Evie immediately. “Come,” Evie orders.

Daisy trots obediently to Evie, then plops down on her haunches. The toy is still in her mouth. As she pants, her tongue lolls to the side. “Give,” Evie says, and Daisy drops the toy in her hand.

Evie turns to me. “Do you want to play with her?”

“Can I?” I ask, more to Micah than Evie. “Will it mess up her training?”

“Not at all,” Micah replies. “You can play with her. It’s good for Daisy’s socialization.”

Taking the slightly-damp toy from Evie, I look down at the puppy now watching me avidly. “Should I throw it? Or play tug?”

“Throw it,” Micah encourages. “She loves fetch. And it helps tire her out. Which I’m sure Evie would appreciate. Tell her to bring after you throw it.”

“Okay.” I cock my arm back and lob the toy across the room. Daisy takes off after it, and once she has it in her mouth, I say, “Bring, Daisy. Bring.”

Given my lack of training experience with dogs—actually, I have zero experience, since my dad was allergic—I’m not sure Daisy will listen to me. But she does, bounding back to me with the Kong held tightly in her mouth. Her expression is proud. Her tag waves like a little flag.

“Tell her to give,” Micah says, “and hold out your hand.” He turns my hand over so my palm is face-up. “Just like this.”

“Give,” I repeat while holding my hand out to Daisy. “Give.”