Hi everyone.   My buddy has been busy and I haven't been able to get to the computer.  Today my buddy was on the phone taking a message for her boss.   I noticed she took the time to ask the caller for the correct spelling of the name and repeated the pronounciation to the person on the other end of the phone.  I did the inquisitive look that us dogs do, with big puppy eyes, head tilted to the side and then she explained that she wanted her boss to know how to pronounce the caller's name correctly.   No one likes to be called by the wrong name.   Now this is a problem that hits close to the dog house.   When people see my name, most of the time the call me T.. L.. C.. Teal'c.  In reality I was named by my buddy's dad, who likes the show Stargate and my name is actually pronounced Tealk.

I know why my buddy wanted to make sure her boss knows the correct pronounciation for the caller so he wouldn't embarass himself by calling the person the wrong name or pronounciation.  As for me, if we are at the park, or if we have visitors in the office and they go "Come here T.. L.. C, com here!"  I don't hear my name so ignore them.  Not on purpose, but that isn't my name!

I know how getting the name right is important.  So, if in the future  you are unsure how to spell or pronounce a name, don't be afraid to ask and mkae notes for others if you have to pass the name on.  I see my buddy getting my leash so I have to say until next time!

This morning started out normal. My buddy and I took a walk, jumped in the car and went off to the office.   When we got to the office my buddy forgot to fill my water bowl. After the walk and the ride I was thirsty. So, I wagged my tail and whined a bit asking by buddy to fill it up. She just scolded me and said "I am busy, calm down" and went back to work. I could tell she wasn't listening to me.    I needed to drink some water so I turned up the nervous whining (the type of whining that annoys everyone around), wagged my tail, bowed my front paw and ended up with a howl/whine combination. She was on the phone and started to look at me like she was going to scold me again.   All of a sudden she looked at me and realized I was trying to communicate with her the best I could.   Then she calmed down, gave me a big pet and looked in my eyes and said, "What are you trying to tell me?"   Once again I did a nervous whine/howl and walked towards the bowl.   She saw it was empty, understood what I was asking and went and filled my water bowl.   When real thirsty water is so good!   After lapping up half the bowl, my buddy once again gave me a big pet and scratch behind the ears.   I have heard her say "active listening" is taking the time to really understand what is being said. Look them in the eye, really listen the message is, acknowledge you understand what someone is saying or in my case what a dog is saying!    I am glad my buddy tries to "actively listen."   Sigh, if only she could speak dog it would be so much easier.