The saying is right, time sure does fly when you’re having fun.  And every day with Sterling is a fun-filled one, especially since he goes just about everywhere with me.  I tell my friends that Sterling is my sanity in a furry package – no matter what life throws at you, good, bad, or downright awful, nothing seems insurmountable in the face of puppy-kisses and Sterling-hijinks.  And when Sterling and I encounter a store or place of business where dogs aren’t really supposed to be allowed, I confidentially tell the worried clerk that it’s okay, Sterling isn’t really a dog.  He’s just a really good looking, really short person with fur.  Then I tell Sterling, “Shake the nice man’s hand.”  His response to that is to stand on his hind legs (which he does alarmingly well – such balance!) and extend his right paw to shake hands.  It hasn’t failed yet!  And even though dogs aren’t supposed to be allowed in restaurants in California, Sterling almost always gets to tag along (hint: restaurants with patios generally can be cajoled into letting a charming rat terrier stick around).  In fact, two of our favorite dining establishments have water bowls just for Sterling, and one chef prides himself on a sweet potato/ broccoli/ chicken breast pate that he makes only for our little guy.

     So life is good if you’re Sterling.  But the truth is, that the little guy earns every bit of spoiling and attention that he gets. 

     Have you ever met a dog that cleans up after himself?  Allow me to introduce you to Sterling.  I swear, the little guy is an absolute neat freak.  He has dozens of toys (every people friend he has can’t resist bringing him something new when they visit) – a condition that I wouldn’t tolerate for an instant if he were like every other dog I’ve ever had, that left its toys and chews all over the floor for you to trip over or slip on at 3:00 AM.  Not Sterling.  He has a big wicker basket that’s all his – the only things that go into the basket are HIS toys.  And he knows it.  Sterling gets toys (sometimes 6 at a time) out of the basket to play with, and when he tires of playing puts the toys back into the basket.  I’m sure this isn’t really a matter of cleaning up after himself, but rather one of hording his possessions.  You know, if he doesn’t put them away, the cat might steal one of his toys!  Or at least that’s the way he seems to feel about it.

     And the truth is … I’m the one who’s spoiled.  He’s just so darned smart that I don’t have to treat him like a dog.  Sterling doesn’t get trained.  Sterling just learns and catches on to words and concepts. And such a vocabulary!

Lynzie: “You can’t go to work like that.  You’re still naked.”
Sterling: Comes over to let me put a collar on him.  He then goes and picks out a leash and brings it back to me, to be hung on the doorknob until we actually leave.

Lynzie: “Are you ready to go to work?”
Sterling: Goes and collects the toys he’ll bring with him to the office that day; stops off to kiss the cat (or knock him off the sofa, whichever is easiest at the time); comes back to the front door and sits up with his front paws in the air so that I can put his jacket and leash on.

Lynzie: “Sterling.  Let’s go.”
Sterling: We’re leaving RIGHT NOW.  Stops whatever he’s doing and gets in the car.

Lynzie: “Scoot over.” (Because he’s probably in the driver’s seat of my car, with his front paws on the steering wheel.)
Sterling: Jumps over to the passenger seat and climbs into his car seat.

Those are just a few examples (all really from our morning routine).  There are lots of other words that Sterling knows.  I’ll have to give you the story on all of them later.  But his basic vocab list is (I’m probably forgetting a few):