Woof! I love my morning routine! I usually wake up before my two-legged pack family, but that’s okay because I’m happy to wake them up! All I have to do is stick my cold, wet nose into my pack-mom’s sleepy ear. Bada bing…wide awake!

I have learned not to start with my pack-dad. He just rolls over and goes back to sleep. (Grumpy two-legger!) It’s best to wake up my pack-mom because she’s a softy and usually gives me anything I want. Woof!

Anyway, after I wake up my pack-mom, I usually go outside to take care of business and then…. it’s time for breakfast! Yum! I woof down my breakfast and then race to the bedroom as I get to come up on my two-leggers’ bed for some snuggle time!

Snuggle time is a big deal for me as I am only allowed on the bed for a little while in the morning while my pack-mom and pack-dad drink their hot black water. I always jump up on the bed and give my two-leggers lots of kissy attention. Then it’s time for my beauty rest. Ahhh….

There I am – all my business taken care of, food in my belly and lots of scratches and kisses from my pack-family. ‘Sound good? Well, the best is yet to come! When I wake up from my nap, it’s time for (drum roll, please!) The Treat Game! The Treat Game is my favorite morning activity! Sometimes, my pack-mom and pack-dad forget what time it is, so I stare at them until they start guessing, “…Wanna come back up? “Wanna go out?” I just keep staring at them until they get it right. (They can both be a little dense sometimes.)

Finally, one of them will say, “Do you want to play The Treat Game?” YES! Yes, yes, yes! I would very much like to play The Treat Game! Thank you very much. So, I tilt my head to the side and flap my ears (which is my way of saying, “Yes“). I then race to the kitchen and assume “the position.”

Here’s how it works. My pack-mom spreads out five different types of treats on the rug in front of me. I have to sit patiently – which is very hard for me to do! Sometimes I have to turn my head to the side and not even look because those treats are sooooo tempting!

When my pack-mom says, “Go!”, I get to pick whichever treat is my favorite! I always smell ALL of the treats first to make sure we don’t have any new ones. Sometimes I’ll pick up one treat and then change my mind and grab another one. (Labrador’s prerogative, ya know). When I pick the one I really want, I wander off, get comfortable and enjoy my goodie. What a way to start the day! Woof! I sure love my morning routine.

Jim McCoy