Since it was supposed to be a lesson for Scooby, the rest of the gang had let the Dane be the one to open the door. But he didn't have a good grip on Scrappy's leash, (and with the mental coaching Melvin had given the young Dane) Scrappy hit the floor running... Dragging his older uncle behind him. Not only that, the rambunctious acting Dane chewed, barked and ran about the whole house; leaving the house in shambles in seconds.
"Rappy! Rappy!" Called the Dane as he tried to get a handle on the bundle of energy. But since Scooby's tone of voice was not firm enough, he was told to ignore it. He was acting like a new dog, and they had to feel out the new owners and see if they could be top of the food chain. But it was the owners responsibility to teach the dog about the hierarchy of the house. Mainly that the people (and Scooby would be included in that as well) were top dogs, and the pet would have to listen.
As the Dane's raced about the room, Shaggy chuckled as he moved out of the wave of a flying shoe. Plucking it from the floor where it landed, he was amused at the small hole that had been chewed into it. Thankfully it was his own, so he was more laid back about it then the others. Wiggling his finger through the hole, he sighed with happy memories.
"Scooby was like' a terror when he was a puppy. I don't know how many shoes he put holes through, before we made him like pizza better. Heh." Tossing the shoe into the air, he caught it with a laugh. "Scrappy is doing a pretty good imitation. I have to give you credit Melvin, he had a good idea of how to pretend to be a new dog. That story about your mom really worked."
Grumbling, Melvin sighed and hung his head. "Actually, in truth this is how he's like EVERY time he comes home from the vet. It usually takes me a good hour to calm him down, and sometimes I find it easier to take him for a run before bringing him home. Not a walk... A run. Well, more of a drag..." He blushed, ashamed that his dog could drag him about like he did. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Shaggy shot him a grin and ruffled his hat.
"Don't feel bad, Scooby won't admit it, but he's pretty bad at times as well. There is a reason why a Great Dane is called Great! They are like' a lot of dog." Leaning close, he whispered into Melvin's ear, keeping his voice down from the others.
"Actually, I let Velma handle it."
"Velma?" Melvin looked shocked, knowing the woman to be not the biggest member of the group. Seeing her be able to control the huge mass of dog, was a bit hard to swallow.
"Shhhh..." Shaggy tried to get Melvin to lower his voice. "She cheats. She puts on her skateboard and let's him pull her down the block."
"I've ended up two towns over once..." Velma had easily heard them, and Melvin didn't help keep the conversation very subtle. "... I just let him run till he was exhausted. I ended up in Richville and had to call for Daphne to come get us. He had run himself ragged and then wouldn't move till Daphne came with some Scooby snacks." Shaking her head, she was annoyed yet amused at the same time. She also had taken a bunch of bumps and scratches as they ran through a few sections that were off the beaten path. But she couldn't even think about letting herself fall, she wouldn't know where she would have ended up.
"Heh, sorry Velms..." Shaggy chuckled.
"Relp!" On his fifth pass around the couch, Scooby was finally ready to ask for some assistance. There was a short pause before Melvin realized that is where he should step in. It was his dog after all.
"Scrappy! HEEL!" Yelling a bit louder then he intended, he flinched as the words left his mouth. But it got to the Dane at the end of the leash, and he skidded to a stop on the carpet.
"Ruff!" Scrappy barked happily, panting a bit from his romp. Walking over to Scooby, he took the leash from where it had gotten wrapped around Scooby's paw.
"Now Scooby, you will need to keep firm grip on the leash. Even if the dog you get is smaller, you have to stay in control. And you have to make sure they don't hurt themselves as well. You don't know what the other dog had been taught in his other home, if he even had one. So you don't know if he was allowed to run about or was allowed to chew on things. You have to set the house rules and make sure he knows it. You have to use clear, simple and consistent commands. If you don't keep the same rules, they won't know which one they should follow. So you have to make sure to keep it simple. And positive reinforcement is the best policy, rewarding when they do something you want them to do..."
"Ahem..." Coughed Scrappy, sitting pretty where he had been told to heel.
"Ah yes. Since Scrappy had listened to my command, I should praise him. Though it is easier for him to understand why he is being praised, if you do it as he or she finishes doing what you asked them to do. And praise can come from treats, hugs and a happy tone in your voice." Melvin leaned over and gave Scrappy a deep scratch across his side, making the young Dane lean with the motions.
"And ear scratching work too." Offered Scrappy, which Melvin complied.
"Yes, ear scratching works too. And most dogs don't talk." Melvin corrected, making the gang snicker.
"Oh, yeah. Ahem, woof. Bark bark." Scrappy spoke in a not very dog like tone. Which earned him a light bob on the nose.
"You shouldn't punish too much either. Because sometimes the dog won't know what you are punishing them for."
Looking over to Scooby, Melvin was trying to make sure the Dane was paying attention. But he only found the unconscious form of Scooby at his feet. Melvin looked surprised, since he didn't expect to see the sleeping dog. Making a gesture at the Dane, he waved his arms back and forth in confusion.
"But... I... um..."
"Wow, he lasted longer then I thought." Fred said with an entertained chuckle. "Don't worry Melvin, it's not your fault. Scooby is really bad with learning things and his brain tends to short out after a bit. And throw a run about the house before hand, he really didn't have much left." Tossing an arm around the boy, he tried to reassure him. Looking up at the older guy, Melvin shot a weak grin back. He still felt bad though.
"Did I do a good job?" Scrappy turned to the group, bounding up with seemingly unending energy. Leaning down, Shaggy gave him a fond scratch behind the ears. Pouring affection upon the younger dog.
"Great Job Scrappy!" Shaggy said with a smile, praising the dog for his work. He looked over at his own dog and shook his head. "I think he might wake up and think differently about owning a dog."
"I hope so, having one is more then enough. No offence Scrappy." Daphne sighed, offering a hand towards to Scrappy, who shook his head. He didn't find offence, since he knew he was a handful... But at least he was Melvin's handful. And he got to go see his uncle out of this experience, so it was worth it to him.
"We should let him rest..." Velma spoke up, leaning over to place a blanket over the sleeping form of Scooby. She shook her head, but a smile tugged at the side of her face as she looked down at the sleeping form with affection. "Anyone for diner?"
A round of agreements rose from the rest of the group, starting towards the hallway. It was only when they reached the threshold when a pair of eyes looked back.
"Wow... He really was tired. I didn't think Uncle Scooby would miss diner for anything. I guess I really worked him out." Tugging on Shaggy's sleeve, he pointed back at his passed out uncle.
"Make sure we save some for Uncle, ok? I would feel bad if we didn't."
Patting the dog on the head, Shaggy nodded with reassurance. "Don't worry Scrappy, he did pretty good today. So I'll make sure we save enough for him. He's going to be hungry when he wakes up."
Passing into the hallway, the living room grew quiet as their voices faded into the kitchen. Rolling over, Scooby moved in his sleep and kicked some of the blanket off one foot. Wiggling his front paw, he giggled in his sleep. It seemed like he was happy at what ever he was dreaming about, tongue falling out of his slightly open mouth. Wagging his tail under the covers, he murmured in his sleep to no one in particular...
"Rood roggy... Rood roggy..."