the seatbelt and the vet

Yesterday I took Bean to the vet. She loves her vet, and she loves going there because she gets so much attention and so many treats. Every time we go they weigh her by getting her to step on this giant scale, and every time she pretends not to know what she is supposed to do, so that they have to literally cover the scale in treats to get her on it. She weighs 57 pounds, which the vet says is fine for a dog like her.

One reason she didn't like going yesterday was because I have finally decided to put an end to her "helping" me drive. She is too big, and it's just dangerous because she is colorblind and can't tell the red lights from the green ones. I got a seatbelt harness from Petco, which is lined with fleece on the inside so it's nice and comfy. I strapped her in the back seat, and snapped this photo at a red light:

Um...Mom, I don't know how you expect me to navigate from back here....

Once we got to our exam room, she was Ms. Brave Explorer. The first stop in any new room is the trashcan, but she couldn't fit her gigantic head into it because it was under a counter top.

Before long, she remembered that all the vets and techs come in through a door on the opposite side of the room. She began sniffing them out and listening for footsteps.

Okay, don't worry...whatever comes through that door, I will protect you, ok? I am a vicious guard dog, and as such will fight to the death to protect my people, which includes you. Got it?

When Dr. Muse came into the room with her assistant, Bean was all smiles and wagging tails until they approached her. Then she jumped up on the bench where I was sitting and wedged all 57 pounds of herself between my body and the wall behind me, with only her head peeking out over my shoulder. At this point she started to cry like a little baby.

Great job protecting me Bean. Really. Just superb.

They eventually lured her out with treats and soft voices, and put her up on the exam table, where she proceeded to tuck her tail between her legs and lick the assistant's face during her entire exam. Afterwards, she pranced back out into the waiting room as if she had just beaten Dr. Muse in an arm wrestling match.

I guess she's got a reputation to protect.