A human with a new puppy is often quite tired lately. Their friends had seen them play with the animal a lot, so they understood, but wow, the happy, hyperactive, puppy had more endurance than the human! -- Anon Guest
Doug was a puppy. A neotenous canid, true. He was also a squiggly, wiggly, squirming, wagging ball of excitement with the unstoppable inclination to lick the entire universe. Human Thu had been playing with the creature for most of their day off. Running with the beast on the jogging track, playing 'fetch' until their arm protested, and so on.
"My plan backfired," panted Thu as Doug continued to gambol about their feet. "I'm worn completely out, but he's still hepped up to play."
Doug chuffed a play sneeze and did the doggy bow that meant, Let's play! He could not, evidently, sit still for any number of consecutive seconds. Companion Renz knew what the Human was going to say next, but dreaded the inevitability.
"Could you give me a hand to wear this little ball of frenzy out?"
"We are not as durable as Humans," protested Companion Renz. "It would take teams. And perhaps a printed chariot."
Thu had what they called a thousand-yard stare. "I should have thought of a dog cart or a sled yesterday. It'd be so much easier to give this little guy his exercise."
Doug had discovered the end of his own tail and was spinning in circles, trying to catch it. The whirring growl indicated that this was a serious and dangerous enemy.
"We will do what we can. And be certain he has food and water whilst you rest."
There were only two things that could slow down a Human. Their own young, or neotenous animals they had decided to care for. Babies of every kind could test any creature's endurance.
So it was as well with Doug.
In terms of inspired desperation, it was a very creative collection of hours. Re-inventing a ball-throwing machine so that the crew could actually have some spare time. Spare time they used to print, assemble, and fine tune a small vehicle that Doug could pull with one occupant aboard.
Doug loved to run. So much so that the challenge was in getting him to stop. The crew made a game of it. Leaping off the seat whilst another aimed their glide to intercept the vehicle in motion.
Finally, after four hours of this, Doug accepted the command to 'lie comfy' on his doggy bed. Tail still wagging, and with a satisfied sigh, he fell asleep at last.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / cynoclub]
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