Charles hung on tightly as Moose charged down the path. “Ouch! Ow! Ooh!” Charles did not let go of the leash, even when rocks scraped his belly and roots banged his elbows. “Moose!” yelled Aunt Amanda. “Down!” Instantly, Moose stopped in his tracks and lay down. “Wow,” Charles said from where he lay behind Moose. “He really is obedient, isn’t he?” “Stay,” Aunt Amanda said to Moose. “Stay right there.” Moose gazed up at her and did not move a muscle. Aunt Amanda ran over to help Charles up. “Are you okay?” she asked. “I am so sorry about that. I guess we have to remember that anything unfamiliar is scary to Moose.” “I’m fine.” Charles dusted off his knees and rubbed his sore elbows. “That was cool, how fast he lay down when you told him to.” “That was terrific,” Aunt Amanda agreed. “I wasn’t positive he would obey but I thought it was worth a try. It’s great to have a dog who will do that. I call it an ‘emergency down.’ It could save his life someday, like if he were about to run out into a busy street.”
