Duke and Rascal, Sunny and Thunder

Duke and Rascal have adjusted to Sunny as she's grown older. When she was a baby, they would hover around her when she came over. Never leaving her side. When she went down for a nap, they would lay outside the door until she woke up.

They became fierce protectors when she started walking. Rascal especially would patiently stand or lay still as Sunny used him as leverage to stand up.

As she began talking, they would faithfully come when she called "doggie". She learned to say "Duke" early on, but Rascal remained "doggie" for months.

When she left our house, they would lay down and nap for hours. Making up for all the hours they were standing watch while she was here.

Gradually they came to realize that she was a person, although a small one. They stopped hovering. They learned to take short naps while she was here. They began to trust her not to pull their ears. To not pull their tails. To not pry their mouths open to look at their teeth.

Then along came Thunder. Once more they are on full alert. When he's here they pace nervously around him. The constantly walk up to him to give him kisses. They lay outside his door as he's napping.

Their job is more difficult now because they still have Sunny to play with. Sometimes they split the duty. One of them guards Thunder while the other plays with Sunny.

They are good dogs.

Rascal supervising at feeding time.

Duke catching a quick nap... or maybe he's saving Thunder's place!