New Tricks for Rascal Read Free Page B

started to move it back.
    For a second it looked like it was aboutto work, and then Rascal fell over backwards. He bounced up again with a confused little “Wuff!” and Ellie heard Amelia tittering. Goldie was sitting perfectly, of course.
    Jack held his treat over Hugo’s nose, but he had to reach up to do it because Hugo was so tall. Hugo wagged his tail enthusiastically and simply ate the treat out of Jack’s hand. Amelia giggled again.

    “Lots of practice is the key thing,” Jo told them encouragingly. “Just five minutes, two or three times a day. They’ll get there. Now, has anyone got any behaviour problems they want to talk about before the end of the session?”
    Ellie looked down at Rascal. He’d done so many naughty things recently, she wasn’t sure where to start. But then Ellie remembered how Rascal was still howling whenever she left him, and how Mum was hardly getting any work done. She looked around nervously, wishing somebody else would go first, but everyone was silent.
    “Um, Jo?” She waved a hand. “Rascal barks and whines a lot while I’m at school. It drives my mum mad!”
    Jo looked thoughtful. “Have you tried giving him one of your sweaters in his basket?” she asked. “Jack Russells can be very devoted to one owner, and if he thinks he’s looking after something for you, he might be happier to be left.”
    Ellie smiled. “Thanks, Jo.”
    “Right. See you all on Friday,” Jo called, and everyone started to gather their things.
    Amelia walked past Jack and Ellie, smirking. “Bet you’re glad you’ve found another dog that’s as useless as yours,” she sneered, as she made for the door.
    Ellie gasped, and Jack stared after Amelia with his mouth open. “What’s with her?” he said at last.
    Ellie shook her head and smiled at him.
    “She’s just a mean girl from my school. Rascal and Hugo are going to be brilliant by the end of the course.”
    Behind her back, Ellie had her fingers crossed.

Chapter Five
Ice Cream for Rascal
    “So did Jo’s tip about the jumper work?” Christy asked. It was Saturday, and Ellie and her mum were having a picnic in the park with Christy, her mum, and Christy’s little sister Jade.
    Ellie nodded. “Yes! I gave Rascal my old pink hoodie, and Mum says he hardly whines at all now! Jo’s so clever. I said thank you to her at the class on Friday and asked if she had any more tips for Rascal.She said it was just all about working with the dog and finding their strengths.” Ellie sighed. “But I’m not sure what his strengths are, apart from guarding pink tops! I wish he was getting better at the rest of his training, too.”
    Christy nodded. “But Bouncer took ages to crack dog-training,” she pointed out, scratching Bouncer’s ears. “Didn’t you, boy? And he’s a Lab, they’re supposed to be good at it! I’m sure Rascal will get there.”
    Ellie stared at Rascal, flat out on his back on the grass, with his paws in the air. “I hope so. I still need to find a special trick to teach him, just to show everyone how clever he is. He is clever, you know. He must be, to think up so many ways to be naughty…” 
    “Girls, would you like an ice cream?” Christy’s mum called.
    “Ooh, yes, please!” they answered.
    Everyone got up to stroll over to the ice cream van, and Rascal perked up at the sight of food. As the girls took their ice creams, Rascal wagged his tail eagerly.
    “I can’t, Rascal,” Ellie whispered. “Mum’s watching!” Ellie’s mum was very strict about not giving him anything that wasn’t his proper food.
    “You wouldn’t like it anyway, Rascal,” Christy told him. “It makes your teeth cold.”
    But Rascal continued to wag his tail hopefully. He couldn’t reach Ellie’s ice cream, or Christy’s, but there was another one, very close to his nose.
    Christy’s three-year-old sister Jade was wandering slowly back to the picnic rug. Her ice cream was dripping temptingly.
    As Ellie took another lick of