Rascal Read Online Free PDF Page B

If he stops barking because he’s surprised or curious, you can praise him and give him a treat.”
    â€œLet’s try it!” said Lizzie. She shut the door on Jamie and went back to the kitchen. Climbing over the baby gate, she quickly explained the plan to the rest of her family. Then she stood near Rascal until the doorbell rang again.
    When it did, Rascal started barking.
    Lizzie threw the can.
    Hey! What was that? Rascal heard the jangly noise and wondered where it came from. But he was too busy barking to stop and find out now. After all, he had a job to do. He had to let his people know that someone was at the door!
    â€œWell, that didn’t work so well,” Jamie admitted when Lizzie answered the door again. “But don’t worry. We’ll try some other things.”
    Rascal was still barking as Lizzie and Jamie came into the kitchen.
    â€œRascal!” Dad yelled. “Cut it out!”
    Dad was not usually a yeller. But everybody was tired of Rascal’s barking.
    â€œI know it’s frustrating,” Jamie said. “But you have to try not to yell at him. Try to think like a dog. If he hears you yelling, he thinks you’re just barking, too — and he’ll want to bark along.”
    â€œBut what else can we do?” Mom asked, taking her hands off her ears to hear Jamie’s answer.
    â€œIgnore him,” Jamie suggested. “Wait until he winds down. Then praise him.”
    They ignored Rascal.
    They ignored him some more.
    He just kept barking and boinging.
    â€œOr,” Jamie said finally, “you can try spraying him with a little water, or water mixed with vinegar.” She pulled a spray bottle out of her bag and sprayed Rascal when he wasn’t looking.
    Hey! What was that? It didn’t usually rain indoors. Rascal twirled around in a circle, trying to figure out where the water was coming from.
    The barking stopped.
    â€œAhh,” said Mom.
    â€œFinally,” said Dad.
    â€œGood dog!” Jamie said to Rascal, giving him a biscuit. “Now,” she said, “maybe we can get some training done.”
    Jamie stayed for over an hour, working with Rascal and with the Petersons.
    Rascal tried to pay attention. He really did. But it was boring to sit, and even more boring to stay. Twirling and jumping were so much more fun!
    â€œThanks for coming,” Mom said when the exhausted Petersons said good night to Jamie.
    Jamie sighed. “You’re welcome. I wish I couldhelp more. But the truth is, Rascal may never be a great house pet.”
    Charles and Lizzie looked at each other.
    â€œI’ll make some phone calls,” Jamie went on. “I know a lady who takes dogs on her farm. Maybe Rascal could stay with her for a while. The dogs don’t get a lot of attention, but at least he would have a place to live.”
    Mom and Dad nodded. But Charles and Lizzie shook their heads. The farm part sounded good, but Rascal loved people and needed attention. They would have to keep trying to find him the right home — and they didn’t have much time left.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Dad asked when he dropped Lizzie, Charles, and Rascal off at the stable the next day after school. Rascal was going to meet Kathy, and then Charles was going to watch him while Lizzie took a riding lesson.
    â€œKathy said I should bring him,” Lizzie said. “Maybe she’ll have some good ideas about training Rascal.”
    â€œOkay,” Dad said. “Just make sure to keep him on the leash. We don’t want him getting in trouble.”
    Maria was waiting. “Hi, Rascal,” she said, bending down to give the puppy a hug. “You are such a cutie. Kathy’s going to love you.”
    â€œWhere is Kathy?” Lizzie asked.
    â€œProbably in the barn,” Maria said. She led theway into the stables. Rascal followed, pulling on the leash Lizzie was holding.
    What a great place! Rascal