“But he’s not going to get big enough to knock Anya over, is he?” Dad pointed out. Toby was a miniature dachshund – he’d never be bigger than about thirty centimetres tall. “And yes, he’s coming home with us. Mum and I have decided you’re both old enough now. He’ll be yours mostly, Ruby, but Anya’s allowed to cuddle him too, OK?”
Ruby nodded. She didn’t mind sharing at all. She was still gobsmacked that they were actually getting their own dog! “Are we taking him home today?” she asked Auntie Nell.
“Absolutely. But you have to eat lunch first. And I made you another birthday cake!”
“Oh wow! Oh, I have to call Beth and tell her we’re really getting a dog,” Ruby whispered. But then she looked worried. “Don’t we need stuff? A basket … and bowls … and … loads of things…”
Auntie Nell held up one finger. “Just a moment.” She disappeared into the utility room, and came back out with a huge cardboard box. “One perfect puppy parcel. This is your present from me, Ruby. Toby is from your mum and dad, so I said I would give you all the things you’d need to look after him properly.” She dumped the box down in front of Ruby. “It’s heavy!”
Toby wriggled in Ruby’s arms, curious to see what was in such a huge box. Ruby laughed. “I think you and Anya are going to be fighting over it,” she told him. “Anya loves boxes.” She hugged Toby gently. It was still hard to believe he was really hers!
Chapter Two
Toby travelled the twenty-minute journey to Ruby’s house in a special cardboard box with flaps and a handle on top, which Auntie Nell had given them. But Mum had said that Ruby could get him out as soon as the car pulled up at the house.
When Ruby opened the flaps, Toby was squashed into the corner of the box with his special blanket in his teeth, looking very worried. He really didn’t understand what was happening, and he didn’t like all the lurching about. The box smelled strange too, sort of new and biscuity. He was glad he had the blanket, which smelled of home, and the other puppies, and his mum. But he dropped it when he saw Ruby and wagged his tail, just a little. He didn’t stir out of his corner though.
“Hey, Toby…” Ruby whispered. “Are you OK? Was it scary being in the car?”
Toby edged closer to her and stood with his front paws on the side of the box, looking up at her hopefully. He didn’t like it in here. He wanted to be stroked and fussed over. And fed. He was starving.
Ruby laughed as she picked him up and he nibbled at her jacket. “Are you hungry? Auntie Nell didn’t want to feed you before we drove home – she said you might be sick. And she thought it would be good to feed you here, you see. Then you’ll have good first memories of being with us. In your new home!”
Toby barked – a sharp, demanding, “Feed me!” bark. He was sure he knew what Ruby was talking about. Auntie Nell always talked to the puppies. Shall we feed you now, hmm? That was what she said when she was getting the yummy biscuits out.
“Come on then!” Ruby followed Mum inside, and Dad staggered after them with the huge box, while Anya danced around them, singing a little dog-song she’d made up.
“We’ve got to do a bit of unpacking and then you’ll get your dinner,” Ruby explained to Toby, as she put him down gently on the kitchen floor. “Your bowls are in here, and a big bag of the food you like.”
But Toby was distracted from food for a moment, as he looked around the kitchen. Dad quickly closed the door. “We’ve got to keep him in here for a few days, remember,” he told Ruby. “Auntie Nell said to get him used to one room first.”
“And it’s tiles in here,” Mum added. “So we can wipe up if he makes any puddles. I know Auntie Nell’s started house-training him, but he’s bound to be a bit confused, and he might forget he has to go out to wee. We’d better put some newspaper down too, just in case.”
Ruby carefully unpacked the box, admiring the cute bowls Auntie Nell had got, with little bones painted on them, and the soft red padded basket.
“Look! There’s a collar and lead!”
“Oh yes. We’ll have to get a tag with our phone number put on that.” Dad nodded. “Here’s the food, shall I open it, Ruby? Then you can give him some.”
Ruby carefully used the measuring cup to fill the bowl with food – Auntie Nell had explained about measuring out the right amount of puppy biscuits for Toby’s size. As she put it down, Toby immediately stopped sniffing his way along the kitchen units, and raced for the food bowl like some sort of trained sniffer dog. He gulped down the biscuits in huge mouthfuls, licking all the way round the bowl in case he’d missed some. Then he had a long drink of water.
“His tummy’s nearly touching the ground!” Ruby pointed out. It was true. Toby’s little dachshund legs meant he wasn’t that high off the ground anyway, and now his stomach looked like a small balloon underneath him. He gave a huge yawn, licked round his mouth again, and then looked around for somewhere to collapse and sleep off his enormous tea. He stomped over to his basket, where Ruby had put the special blanket Auntie Nell had given them. She’d explained that it had been in the pen with Maisie and the puppies for the last few days, so that Toby would have something that smelled familiar.
“Oh, Anya!” Mum sighed.
Toby’s new bed was already occupied. Anya was curled up in the soft basket, fast asleep. Toby looked at her doubtfully, and then turned to look up at Ruby, with his ears hitched up just a little in a, Well, what am I supposed to do about this, then? sort of way.
Mum gently lifted Anya out of the basket, but Toby clearly wasn’t sure about it now. He stood at Ruby’s feet, staring up at her pleadingly, and she knelt down next to him. Toby gave a little sigh of relief and heaved himself on to her lap, scrabbling round her knees a couple of times, and then slumping down in a heap – fast asleep.
Toby settled into his new home very quickly. And he was growing up, too. He was still small – he was never going to be a big dog – but over the next couple of weeks he stopped sleeping so much, and became more and more adventurous – and a bit naughty. He loved playing in the garden with Ruby and Anya, especially rootling through the flowerbeds. Then he would trot happily back to the girls, covered in leaves and bits of twig, and shake himself all over them.
He was also terribly nosy. As soon as he was allowed out of the kitchen, after the first couple of days, he investigated the entire house. Every time Ruby wasn’t watching he would manage to find himself another secret hiding place, which he would get stuck in. Then he’d howl so she had to come and rescue him. Ruby didn’t understand how he actually managed to find half the spots, let alone climb into them. When he got trapped behind the washing machine Dad had to pull it right out from the wall for Toby to escape.
For a dog with such short legs, he was a very good climber, although he was much better at climbing up than down. That never stopped him, though.
About a week after they’d got Toby, Ruby let him out into the garden on his own for the first time. Up until now she’d always gone with him, but he needed a wee, and she was helping Mum do some cooking.