The sound of the car door slamming shut in the driveway awakens me up from one of my daily naps. I feel my ears perk up and my heart starts to pick up. Is it mum? I think to myself. She usually comes home right about now. It must be her! It must be her! I feel the excitement fill my chest as I concentrate on the sounds around me. Suddenly, I hear footsteps make their way up the front steps of the house. With each thud on the wooden steps, out of pure exhilaration, I feel my hind legs lift the rest of my body up onto all fours. I bolt forward and before I know it, I’m staring at the door.

My heart starts to pound faster, for I’m almost certain it’s mum making her way into the house, but like any guard dog I have to be on the tips of my paws just in case it’s an intruder. I must protect my pack. I start to pace. I’m trying to contain myself, but as soon as the door creeps open, like a reflex, my muzzle finds the gap.

It’s her! Mum! I lose myself and start to jump up and down out of complete happiness and joy. My tail is wagging like crazy and I hear my own “I love you!” and “Oh my god, I’m so happy to see you” barks escape my little mighty mouth. She is happy to see me; I just know it. She starts to talk and I recognize my name and words like “good”, “cute” and “love”. Her voice is followed by many pats and kisses. I roll onto my back and show her my belly, which is I offering my complete trust and loyalty to her. She returns the favor and gives me wonderful belly rub. I feel my tongue fall out of my mouth and my eyes slowly close as she continuously scratches my tummy. I feel like I died and went to puppy heaven.

And just like that it stops! My eyes flash open and she is on the move. I quickly get on my paws and catch up to her. She settles her stuff down on the kitchen table and heads over to the big box that keeps all the food cold. As she opens the box, I sneak my way in between her human paws so I can catch some of the escaping cold air. Then it hits me. I look up and there it is! The shiny can. I lick my chops and follow mum and the shiny can to the counter, never once breaking my gaze. Is it beef? Is it chicken? I don’t care, I’m starving. I listen attentively to clinking of bowl and the mixing of my food.

After what feels like forever, I watch the shiny bowl finally peer over the ledge of the counter and make its way all the way down to my level. As soon as mum’s paws get out of the way I dive in, muzzle first, and start to devour the contents of my meal. Oh my god! This is so good I think to myself. I gotta eat it quick before someone takes it. As I reach the end of the race to finish my food, I take one final lick of the bowl and I am satisfied.

I gotta show mum how clean I made the bowl! So I look around, tongue out, but she is nowhere to be found. My heart drops, and fear takes over as I wonder where she went. I run through all the rooms in the house and there is no sign of her. Where did she go? I think to myself and I begin to worry. She left? But she didn’t tell me. She always gives me a pat goodbye. What if something happened?

I start to pace back and forth, but just as I reach the end of the hallway, my ears perk. I hear the water running and realize she is in the bathroom. I find relief and wait outside the door to greet her once again. For I could never get tired of showing her how happy she makes me and expressing my loyalty. She is my mum, and I love her with all that I can. I will do everything to show it to her and protect her for as long as my pup years let me. She saved me, it’s the least I could do. After all, one of the strongest kinds of love there is is the love and affection a pup has for its owner.