The Bestest Big Brother EVER!

Princess here with stories of how great Tank is! Now Don't tell him I said so, but he really is the bestest big brother ever! I bark at him and pounce on him and bite his ears to get him to play a lot and he never lets me down. Just listen to some of the great stories of him being sweet to me:

One day, last winter just before we turned one year old, I looked at Tank and he knew I wanted to play. I told him, I'll play the crafty predator and you be my victim! So I ran off, hiding behind the rosebush in the snow. I knew that hiding behind the 1/2 inch canes in my jet black coat I'd be completely invisible against the snow. I crouched down in anticipation of the kill.

So Tank waits till I'm ready and he comes sauntering down the yard, that magnificent head swaying gently side to side to a spot near where I am. At just the right moment he looks away as if suddenly fascinated by something waaay off to the left. I rush out of hiding, take a huge leap in the air to crash down on him. He hears my charge but instead of jumping towards me he jumps straight up to present a huge target for my leap. I contact him with a thud and he plops to the ground and I pounce, enjoying my well earned meal.

Then there was the time we were about to go on a long car ride. After romping in the back yard, dad asked me to poo. I froze. I knew he wanted something, but I didn't know what. I was horrified that dad wanted something but I didn't know how to please him. I wanted desperately to please my papa! So he said it again, more clearly. He recognized the look on my face but was at a loss how to communicate to me what he wanted. While he was trying to figure it out, along comes my bestest big brother! Tank walked up to me and slid his nose next to mine and looked me right in the eyes. Dad says it was as if he took my face lovingly in his hands and calmed me down. After 20 or 30 seconds he turned his back, trotted off a few yards, and pooped. So then I turned my back, trotted off a few steps and pooped! Boy was my dad happy. I got lots of "good girl!"s and Tank got lots of "good boy!"s. Isn't Tank clever!

Then there was the time when I was maybe 6 or 8 months old. Back then we pups would sleep on the tile 'cause it was cool. But there was no tile next to dad and I, being desperately in love with my papa, wanted to cuddle next to him. So one morning I sit right by his head, watching him up on his bed. I wanted to jump up, but I didn't dare. When papa saw me he told me to come up in a sweet voice and patted the bed but I was too afraid. So I trot off to get Tank. I tell him all my woes and we both walk into dad's room. Tank looks up at dad and quails a bit. Isaac told us that trying to sleep on the people's bed got him a bad punishment at his 3rd home in New Orleans. Tank stayed brave and when dad saw him he says, come on up, Tank! And Tank hops up! Tank walks up to dad's face and dad tells him what a good boy he is! Dad gives Tank a great petting! So I hesitantly jump up near dad's feet and I get a "good girl"! Now I walk towards dad's head and he pets me, too. Tank turns to leave but before he goes I turn back, he turns towards me and we slap tongues. Dad says it looked like we gave each other a high 5 with our tongues! So Tank jumps off into the sunrise and I get to cuddle with my papa! I'm so happy and so grateful to Tank for paving the way!

Sometimes Tank and I joust. We separate and run at each other full tilt, leaping and crashing together with an earth shattering impact. Usually he lets me win. When he doesn't I bounce pretty far.

Isn't Tank the bestest big brother ever?

(Papa's note: These stories are all true, every detail)

Stories that must not be forgot.

Dad here, with stories that demonsttrate how amazing these pups really are. Every once in a while, when I have a flashback, I'll jump in with a story that's too good to be lost in the mists of my memory. They're fading too fast as it is. Princess and Tank were littermates. For the first year of their lives they had incredible communication. Tank was amazingly skilled at communication. Princess was really in touch with the feelings of her fellow creatures. These are their stories.

P&T were about 6 months old. I was working with them on pooping on command. I thought they had it and we were going on a long journey. Princess couldn't hold it for near as long as the boys, so I asked her to go poo. She looked at me and I asked her again. She froze. I could tell she knew I wanted her to do something, but she didn't know what. She was such a daddy's girl this stressed her out totally. So I'm standing there, wondering how I can remind her when Tank comes trotting up, slides his nose next to hers and stares deeply into her eyes. You could tell it was as if he affectionately took her face in his hands. They looked at each other for almost a minute and you could see Princess relax. Tank then turned trotted away and with his back to her squatted and pooped. Princess then turned, trotted away, and pooped. Not only did she get tons of praise, but so did Tank. What a great older brother he is!