Patricia MacLachlan - Barkus Dog Dreams

For Aisling, and in memory of Casey and Scottie. Love, P. M. Text 2018 by Patricia MacLachlan.
Illustrations 2018 by Marc Boutavant. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: MacLachlan, Patricia, author. | Boutavant, Marc, illustrator.
Title: Dog dreams / by Patricia MacLachlan ; illustrated by Marc Boutavant.
Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2018] | Series: Barkus ; book 2 | Summary: Barkus is a large and very clever dog, and Baby is a cat, and together their adventures make life exciting for seven-year-old Nicky and her family.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017045066 | ISBN 9781452116761 (alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: DogsJuvenile fiction. | CatsJuvenile fiction. | FamiliesJuvenile fiction. | CatsFiction. | Family lifeFiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.M2225 Do 2018 | DDC [E]dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017045066 ISBN 978-1-4521-1676-1 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4345-3 (epub) Design by Sara Gillingham Studio.
Typeset in Harriet and Lunchbox. | Family lifeFiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.M2225 Do 2018 | DDC [E]dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017045066 ISBN 978-1-4521-1676-1 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4345-3 (epub) Design by Sara Gillingham Studio.
Typeset in Harriet and Lunchbox.

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Barkus looks sick, said my mother. My father called the vet. She says to bring Baby, too. She is due for a shot. Barkus lay on the backseat of the car. He didnt sit up and make dog nose smudges on the window.

Baby sat in her cat carrier, looking at Barkus. Barkus wagged his tail a bit when we got to the vets clinic. He liked Robin the vet. Robin sat down on the floor next to Barkus. He didnt try to lick Robins face the way he always did. Robin looked in his ears.

I think Barkus has an ear infection, she said. Hes going to need to take some pills. Robin taught my father how to give Barkus his pills. She put the pill in some cheese and opened Barkuss mouth. She held his mouth shut. After a minute Barkus swallowed.

Bring him back next week, she said. Then Robin took Baby out of her carrier and gave her a shot. Baby didnt care. She jumped out of Robins arms and ran over to be with Barkus. Friends, said Robin with a smile. Every day, my father wrapped the pills in bread, or cheese, or turkey, or ham, or peanut butter.

Every day Barkus took his pills, then went behind the couch. Then one day he came out from behind the couch. Soon Barkus wagged his tail at me. He played with Baby. Barkus was better! The pills had worked! But Baby surprised us. She batted Barkuss pills out from behind the couch! Thats a week of pills! said my mother.

Barkus didnt swallow any, I said. It was time to take Barkus back to the vet. Barkus sat and looked out the window, his nose on the glass. He was happy to see Robin. She looked at one ear, then the other. Youre all better, Barkus, she said.

But he didnt take the pills, I said. Baby found them behind the couch. Robin laughed. I guess Barkus got better without them, she said. She led him to the scale. He gained weight while he was sick! How could that happen? she said.

I know how it happened, said my mother. Ham and turkey and bread and cheese... And peanut butter, I said. Barkus likes peanut butter much better than pills. He likes peanut butter better than everything, said my mother. He barked. He barked.

I think Barkus said peanut butter, said Robin. He did, I said. No more peanut butter, Barkus, said Robin. Youll get fat. Barkus didnt care.

We carried a picnic basket and a blanket to the park. Barkus walked beside me. There were sparklers. There were balloons. I opened the dog park gate, and Barkus ran inside. There were many dogs playing.

Ben with short legs Molly, the Great Pyr Rudy, the terrier who needed brushing Ollie with curls. A band played a peppy song. Barkus stopped playing and listened. Barkus watched. Barkus wants to play in the band, I said.