Wolfie is my dog. His fur is long in some places and short in others. He is white with brown spots and little black freckles. And he has a ring around one eye. He is not a big dog, but he is not small either. He is my friend.

Today Wolfie has to go to the veterinarian for a checkup. “Wolfie,” I said, “you have to go to the doctor. But don’t worry. I have been to the doctor lots of times. She will look in your ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. She will also listen to your heartbeat, just like my doctor checks me. Do you understand, Wolfie?”

Wolfie put his head down and covered his eyes with his paws. I guess he understood.

“Everyone is afraid of the doctor at first,” I told him, “but I will stay with you every minute.”

Soon it was time to go. I had to find Wolfie. He was hiding under my bed, but I saw his tail sticking out. I called to him and he crawled out to me.

“Wolfie,” I said, “I have to put this leash on you so you will not get lost.” This did not make Wolfie very happy.
Mom drove us to the veterinarian’s office. Inside there were all kinds of dogs and cats and a rabbit waiting to see the doctor. Wolfie did not even want to play. Finally the doctor called us in.

Mom and Wolfie and I went into the examining room. We lifted Wolfie onto the table.

“Hello, Wolfie. How are you?” asked Dr. Lennox.

Wolfie sat there, not even wagging his tail.

The doctor scratched behind Wolfie’s ears. “It’s OK to be a little nervous,” she said in a soothing voice. “What are you here for today?”

I told her Wolfie needed a checkup.

“Well,” the doctor said, “let’s see how he is doing.” She looked in Wolfie’s ears and eyes. She listened to his heart, and then she checked his legs and body to be sure there were no cuts. After inspecting him all over she said, “Wolfie looks just fine, but he needs a rabies shot.”

I had forgotten to tell Wolfie about that, so while the doctor
prepared the shot, I whispered to him, “This will only hurt a tiny bit. You need it so you will not get sick. When it is all over, we will go home and have a treat!”
Wolfie liked the sound of that.

The doctor’s assistant came in to hold Wolfie while he got his shot. Doctor Lennox was very careful and quick, and Wolfie was very brave! Soon it was all over and I gave him a big hug. He gave me a big kiss.

“Wolfie is a good friend,” the doctor said.

“The best!” I said smiling. “Is he done?”

The doctor nodded, and I put Wolfie on the floor. He bolted straight for the office door. I knew he was glad to be going home.

Wolfie was not nervous anymore. He wagged his tail past the cats and dogs and the rabbit in the waiting room. He wagged his tail and barked happily all the way home. When I opened the car door, he jumped out and ran into the yard. He rolled over and over in the grass. We played for a while; then Wolfie and I went into the house. I gave him his treats.

Just then the phone rang and Mom answered it.

“Thank you for calling,” Mom said as she hung up the phone. She told me that it was my doctor’s office. Now I had to go in for a checkup and a shot.

“Oh, no,” I groaned. Wolfie laid his head on my lap and licked my hand. He was telling me that it would be all right. He knew. He had just been there himself.