Test Drive Your Intuition-"Just Say It"
Lucy's Story, A Handy Communication Tip

by Joyce Leake

From Lucy's point of view, every day should be the same. According to her schedule, she cannot wait for the alarm clock to sound, signifying, "Get up, let me out, and feed me my breakfast." We, as loving doggy parents, obediently comply.

The rest of Lucy's day is filled with chasing bunnies, aggravating the two gray cats, eating niblets from the breakfast table, and taking her morning nap, while I work on the telephone.

Precisely at 2:00 p.m. she awakens to tell me, through her stares, that it's time to take our daily trip. We go to the post office, drop off letters, pick up the mail and proceed with her venture. Even though our property has plenty of acreage for Lucy to enjoy, she is fearful of the horses, and prefers, no. demands, that her exercise routine adheres to her expectations; a walk at the County Fairgrounds. There, she sniffs all of her favorite places, especially the pig-holding pens filled with remnants of fat, market swine smells left over from the annual August fair. Then it's home to another nap, dinner, and evening family time.

One evening, after a particularly long day, as I lay on the couch in my comfy clothes, browsing through a puppy dog catalogue, Lucy demanded a tummy rub. The problem was that I was on one side of the room and she was sprawled out, tummy up, little short legs aimed ceiling high, on the other. I remember saying to myself, " I wonder if I just tell her to come over closer if she'll do it."

It was worth a try. I said, " Lucy, I cannot reach you so far away. If you want me to scratch your tummy, you'll have to come closer." I left it at that and waited. Within a few seconds, Lucy politely rolled over, got up, and with precision, placed her body, tummy up, right under my hand. I proceeded to scratch, as promised.

I was amazed. Even though this is my job, and my living, it still flabbergasted me that it actually happened so effortlessly. Since then, I have included "just saying it" with all the animals who live with me. I pass this tip onto you and encourage you to give it a try. What do you have to lose? Besides, it makes tummy scratching a lot easier!

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