Amycus Carrow (bithnyianking) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-02-02 00:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | amycus carrow, william laurence |
Who: Amycus and Laurence (NPC Laurel and Madison Carrow)
What: Dog training (Chip is a difficult little fluff ball)
When: Recently
Where: Amycus and Regulus house
Rating/Warnings: None really except for a stubborn slightly disobedient dog
Status: Complete when posted
Laurence had never once thought that he would have cause to discipline a dog. He liked dogs, but given that, in the normal course of things, he spent more time at sea than at land, he knew that owning one as a pet was far from practical. He couldn’t very well bring it with him on his missions, and it would be cruel and unfair to both the animal and anyone who Laurence saddled it with while he was deployed to ever entertain the idea.
But, Amycus had mentioned having trouble with Chip, and Laurence did have quite a lot of experience with discipline.
“Sit,” he said sternly to the dog, and to his pleasure, the Chip sat promptly down. It likely had to do with the treat that Laurence had in his hand. “And stay,” he said, again sternly, to the dog. He handed the treat to Laurel. “Now, I’d like you to walk down to the other end of the hall,” he said, pointing in the direction. “I don’t want you to give him the treat unless he can stay precisely where he is until we give him the signal to move.”
***
Amycus had to admit that he was enjoying getting to watch Laurence training Chip. Or trying to at least. So far the pup was behaving himself but his previous sessions with Chip had all started with the young dog behaving himself and following the instructions pretty well. The problem he’d had was that the behaviour never lasted. Laurel gave him a questioning glance at Laurence’s directions and he nodded from where he was standing with Aslan on the side watching. He wasn’t going to interfere with this lesson at all. On Chips behalf or the twins. That was the deal he and has friend had made - Laurence was in charge of this training. “Do what he says princess. That’s a good girl.” He said, giving her a small smile as she went to the other end of the hall.
Chip was looking down the hall at Laurel (and the treat in her hand) whimpering softly as he started to stand up almost as if he was hoping that Laurence wouldn’t notice him moving as long as he did it slowly.
***
“Stay,” Laurence commanded, ignoring the dogs beseeching whine. He had to admit that it was much more pleasant training the dog, especially with the help of Amycus’ girls, than it was training his Able Rates.
Before Laurence had the chance to release Chip from his command, however, the dog seemed to decide that it couldn’t wait anymore, and went bounding after Laurel. “Chip, no, come here,” he demanded, though it fell on deaf ears.
***
Amycus barely managed to hold himself from laughing at the dogs sudden change in behavior, coughing and giving Laurence a sympathetic look as Aslan laid down beside him, head on one paw with the other over his nose. “Doggy sarcasm is not appreciated Aslan. Sit up like a good boy.” He said when the larger breed let out a quiet whoomph of what Amycus interpreted as amusement. “Laurel...he didn’t do what he was told so no treat right? Isn’t that what the rule was at the beginning?” He added when he saw her start to give the puppy the treat. Okay so he’d interfere a little. Just to reinforce things.
Chip sat down in front of her, staring up at the treat she still had looking like he was grinning for all the world.
***
Laurence gave Amycus an appreciative, if not strained smile, beginning to rethink whether or not he truly prefered dog training over training his men. His men, after all, generally listened, especially if they were subjected to a dressing down at Captain’s Mast. Less charming, perhaps, than the girls with their dog, but at least slightly less maddening.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to try it again,” Laurence said evenly, without a hint of the exasperation he felt. They had already been at it for some time, and he had been hoping by now to at least be able to take a break for refreshments, though that would be quite impossible until ‘stay’ had been learned perfectly.
***
Amycus had to admit - Laurence was far better at keeping his calm than he’d been in the face of Chips antics. “Want me to go ahead and order lunch for us? It might take them a while to get the order here and I don’t know about you but I’m getting hungry.” He said, watching as Chip apparently gave up on out waiting Laurel and come over towards him and Aslan and tried to bait the older dog into playing. “Stay Aslan. It’s not playtime right now.” He said, proud of the mastiff as he ignored the younger dog’s attempts.
“Chip. Go back to Laurence. Go on now.”
***
“That would be gracious,” Laurence answered with a smile. He, of course, would have made no such suggestion, but he was glad that Amycus had thought of it himself. He gave Anslan a bit of a smile. It was too bad that the big dog couldn’t train Chip himself; no doubt if he had the ability to, he’d be far more successful that Laurence himself was.
Chip already seemed to be considering returning to Laurence, and at Laurence’s brisk “come,” the pup made his way the rest of the way over. “Now sit,” Laurence said, and to his relief Chip promptly sat down. He pulled a treat from the bag he was keeping in his breast pocket, to his way of thinking, rewarding Chip for a command that he already seemed to grasp quite fully was the best way to encourage him to follow commands he was less competent in.
“Now, stay,” he commanded, and began to move away from the dog himself.
***
Amycus pulled out his phone, dialing a number on speed dial that they used pretty regularly here at the house on nights when Regulus was working late and couldn’t cook. He placed the order quietly, making sure to order a little bit of everything for them since he didn’t know how long the training session would take. And whether or not Regulus would feel up to cooking dinner that night. And well if all else failed he could take the leftovers to the office for his lunches.
Chip, to his credit stayed still for about 15 seconds, before moving towards Laurence, headbutting at his groin area while whining, sitting back down and looking up towards the pocket that held the bag of treats. “Chip! That is not good manners!” Amycus said, hanging up his phone when he saw the dog’s behavior.
***
Laurence sighed, leaned down, and placed both his hands under Chip’s chin so he could lift the dog’s face and look him in the eye. “You are incorrigible, aren’t you?” he said, and dropped Chip’s head.
He straightened himself again, and turned to Amycus. “I’m afraid that I seem to be out of my depth. I must admit, I had thought that this would be easier.”
***
Chip gave off a happy bark at that attention, trying to lick Laurence’s face even as the military man scolded him while the girls giggled. “What’s incorrigible mean?” Laurel asked, still standing where Laurence had directed her to wait.
Amycus smiled at him. “It’s not your fault. Chip is...rather stubborn I think. They can’t all be easy to train like Aslan was. And you’ve gotten him to stay in one spot longer than I ever could so that’s definitely something. It’s a shame we don’t have one of the teachers from our school days here. They’d put the fear right into him.” He said, joking a little bit.
***
“It means that he will not allow me to correct his behaviour,” Laurence said, trying very hard not to smile as the dog showered him with kisses and very nearly succeeding. “Or perhaps my instructors from the HMS Raleigh,” Laurence mused, referring to the ship on which new Royal Navy recruits were initially trained.
“I’m sure if we just stick to it, and make sure to not reward him if he hasn’t done as we have asked,” at this, he shot a meaningful glance at Laurel, “then he will come along nicely. There are some long-standing bad habits that I think need breaking beforehand, however.”
***
“Are we incorrigible?” Madison asked. Amycus coughed to cover up the laugh that escaped him. “At times you are. Laurence should we try to get one of your instructors to come work with them?” He teased, tickling Madison as he kissed her cheek. “I wouldn’t have you any other way princess. Either of you.” He said, shooting Laurel a smile too. “Well except for maybe a bit better when it comes to eating your vegetables.”
“So it’s more a matter of stubborness than not being as bright as his big brother. I thought that might be the case. Girls...you heard him. No treats unless he’s good and follows his commands. No matter how cutely he asks or tries to sneak it from you.” He looked back at Laurence. “So which of his bad habits are we working to break first?”
***
Laurence couldn’t help but smile warmly as he watched Amycus with his girls. It was heartwarming to see what kind of father Amycus had become, especially after all the business with his wife - business Laurence wished desperately that he didn’t know but had no choice in the knowing.
“I think the most important one, of course, is breaking this expectation of his that he will be rewarded whether he does the job or not. That,” he said, turning his gaze to the girls, “will require everyone’s help. Including yours.”
***
“Just like with Aslan - no sneaking Chip treats. You understand?” Amycus said giving them both looks as Chip whined and tried to get at the treats Laurence had again. “We understand Daddy.” They both said in unison and Amycus smiled at them.
“If I catch you sneaking him treats - you’ll both be in big trouble. Just like with Aslan only treats he gets are when he does what he’s commanded.”
***
Laurence smiled at them. “I think we must all be getting quite exhausted from this day’s training,” he allowed after a moment. He had to remember that he was dealing with children and a puppy this time around, instead of with men who’d signed up for the hard work. “But thank you both for all your help. You’ll listen to your father on this, I hope?”
***
Aslan yawned as if to prove Laurence’s point and Amycus smiled at him. “What do you say we call it a day on the training for now, have lunch and then maybe Laurence would like to go with us to visit the horses?” Amycus said looking at his friend as the twins cheered.
***
“I would like that very much,” Laurence agreed, smiling. It would be a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.