House Rules

"Okay James, there are a few house rules you will need to adhere to while you are here. I know you are a good dog, but if you break the rules I will have to show you some tough love and punish you. Do you understand?"

"Ruff!"

"Good boy. Now first of all, no climbing onto the furniture anywhere is the house. The furniture is for humans, not pets. Do you understand?"

"Ruff!"

"When you wish to be fed you will approach Mr Chambers, my butler here and bark once, for water it is twice and if you need to go number two bark three times. You can then do your business in the garden and Mr Chambers can clean up after you."

The butler tried to disguise his distaste for the particular task.

"If you need to go number one you may do so yourself unaccompanied, but please ensure you go on the plants in the garden. At least they get watered that way"

"Ruff!"

"I have two other beloved pets, my cats Daisy and Betsy. You are not to chase or antagonise them in any way. I will be very unhappy with you if you do. Do you understand me, James?"

"Ruff!"

"I would also appreciate you not pestering the wildlife in the garden too much though I do understand dogs will be dogs will be dogs."

"Ruff!"

"Finally, when I call you you will come to me without hesitation, and you will obey all my orders. Now, you have quite a bit of downtime before my guests and your competitors arrive and I have to make some final preparations. So why don't you explore the house or maybe play outside for the next hour or so. I will call you when I am ready for you to begin your training!"

"Ruff! Ruff!" James barked agreeably..

"Oh, what a wonderful dog you are James! I can't wait to show you off to my friends!"

James sat for a moment deciding where to explore first. His canine instincts were overriding the overwhelming humiliation he was feeling. Amy had not been completely honest. When she had taken James off to "prepare" him for this assignment she made sure that he retained all of his human memories and was fully aware at all times that he was human and not really a dog. However, this was no act. He was compelled to act like a dog at all times until Amy returned and brought him out of this state. Quite why she left him so fully aware of what had been done to him wasn't clear, perhaps because it was required for him to retain his human intelligence or, more likely, she got a kick out of the humiliation and dehumanisation he would be subjected to for the next 72 hours.

He had no time to dwell on that now though, there was a bird table nearby with a couple of blue tits resting on it and he felt an overwhelming urge to chase them. As Eleanor said, dogs will be dogs.