Bertha the Greeter

Mikayla Monroe

Clicks: 201

08/12/2018

For many years Bertha has guarded her castle. Her sense of duty is unparalleled (even though no one really put her up to ). Any newcomer that arrives is faced with an unrelenting wrath of barking and howling and unless you know the key words. Even old family friends whose faces she's seen for many years are greeted by the same diligence. No matter what disguises they try to hide in, Bertha does not fear them, not even in giant rolling metal boxes!

I was no different. Bertha always hit her cue as soon as she saw my car come up around the corner. I was at her mercy until Danny, the person she looks up to the most, would distract her with a toy.

Now for the record, Bertha has never been mean. She never jumps on guests or nips at their heels, she just barks from afar until she realizes you are no longer a threat.

As time went on I learned to yell one of her key commands when I approached from my car, /b> At which point she would, while barking, search the grounds for a stick or dog toy for me to throw.

I don't know what happened, but recently Bertha has howled significantly less at me. When she sees my car, she barks mildly, then miraculously walks up for me to pet her. When I enter the house and sit down, she sits next to me. I guess you could say that after three years of taking her on runs, playing with her and her toys, giving her treats, taking her down to the river to cool off on hot days, and petting her, I'm finally in her inner greeting circle.