Callie

Yes, Dear…

by Anjie Coates
Photo by Anjie Coates

allie is a beautiful, sweet Llewelin Setter and a regular at the salon.
Callie arrived a bit early so I open the crate next to her and take out a different dog first.
Callie: “Anjie! I’m right here!”
“I know, babe, I have to finish Joey first. You’re next though,” I tell her.
Callie: “But I’m right here!”
“I know. I promise you’re next!” I assure her.
Callie: “Fine. I guess I can wait…”
I finish Joey and head over to grab Callie.
Callie: “It’s me! I’m still here!”

“Yes, I know you are, hun. I can only groom one of you guys at a time though,” I explain.
Callie: “I just figured you didn’t know it was me, because I know I’m your favorite.”
“I did, actually. And while I do love you very much, I have to do you guys in order, because that’s only fair,” I tell her.
Callie cuts me off with a head bump to my face to let me know she knows she’s a favorite.
“But I love Joey a lot too; he’s a sweet boy,” I say.
Callie: “It’s OK, I know you don’t want him to know you love me more.”

I chuckle while I continue to comb out her feathering, and say “You’re too much, girl.”
Callie smiles at me and gives me a kiss: “I know.”
“OK, let’s measure that growth under your ear so we can tell your Dad where it’s at,” I tell her.
Callie: “OK!”
I measure the small growth under her ear with the measuring tape I keep in my toolkit so I can let her owner know if it’s gotten any larger.
Callie: “Good?”
I look at the index card and compare the measurements: “Same size, that’s good! I’ll let Dad know,” I assure her.
Callie: “Good! Now a treat for being a good girl?”
“Of course, you always get the holding-still treat for that,” I reply as I hand her a tiny piece of freeze-dried beef liver, which disappears in a second.

Callie: “We done?”
“We are, babe!” I tell her.
Callie: “Picture time! What’s the costume?”
“I don’t really have any for this theme; just a bandana this time,” I say.
Callie: “But costumes mean more treats.”
“You’ll get the same treats. You are, after all, a favorite, as you’re well aware,” I remind her.
Callie: “Do you say that to all the dogs?”
“Well, not exactly, because some are cats or bunnies….” I trail off.
Callie: “You didn’t answer the question!”

“You are hands down my absolute favorite Llewelin Setter,” I tell her.
Callie: “I knew it! You love me!”
“Yes, I do,” I assure her as I hand her a treat.
When her Dad arrives I update him on the size of the growth and tell him Callie is my favorite Llewelin Setter.
“How many do you have?” he asks.
“Well…just Callie,” I say.
Callie: “I’m the best one and her favorite!”
And I reply,