Ella and I started our morning as we usually do, by walking up to the dog run so she can chase tennis balls for an hour until she’s at least tired enough when we get home to lay down for a couple of hours and let me do some work.  Unfortunately, our morning routine went very awry.  I knew we were in trouble when I got there and there were no tennis balls to be found.  Usually there are at least a half dozen or so available so I have the luxury of throwing balls in rapid fire succession  to tire her out even faster.  But this morning…nada.  And I stopped bringing her own ball because Ella is so passive the she drops it the second we get there and other dogs play with it and she just stares at them for an hour.  Just as I was trying to figure out an alternative to tiring her out, a man walked in with his dog…and a brown paper bag.  He walked over to a bench, sat down, and proceeded to take a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich out of that bag and rest it on his lap.  In the blink of an eye - literally - Ella ran over, pawed half the sandwich onto the ground and swallowed it whole!  Mortified I ran over as fast as I could to pry her away from him in the hopes of salvaging the other half.

Now, while I take full responsibility for the fact that my pup has NO control or manners when it comes to food (she still doesn’t understand that it’s impolite to dig her nose into the pockets of perfect strangers - even those who don’t own dogs - in search of treats), I have to say I’m not sure what this man was thinking bringing that sandwich into a dog run.  Although my dog took the prize, the other dogs were swarming around him like sharks.

Embarrassed and irritable, Ella and I left the dog run before the sharks attacked.  I decided we’d have to instead go for a long jaunt in Central Park where Ella could burn off that bagel sandwich and I could burn off a lot of steam.  As part of her punishment, Ella was forced to pose for more photos.  Harsh, I know.  You won’t be surprised to know that my middle name is disciplinarian, I’m sure.

Pleased as I may be with these shots, I’m doubtful that Ella learned any lesson today other than dog run=bacon.  I do hope at least that man learned his lesson - if he’s going to bring breakfast, he really needs to bring enough for everyone.

Still feeling good from her high protein brekky, she’s happy to stop and digest for a moment on the north end of the Great Lawn.

Here she is, really working a pose in front of The Lake while we’re walking through The Ramble.

Basking in the sunshine by The Lake…

Showing off her lean puppy physique…

…and her beautiful smile.

And finally here she is on the East Side after we left the dog run, pausing for a moment by the East River with the 59th Street Bridge in the background.

Vacuum up that pet hair!