Mornings with the Dog
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Michael
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Todd
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Todd: Michael, what time did you get up this morning?
Mike: About 7, no 6.
Todd: Really, is that like your normal schedule?
Mike: I usually get up around 6. (Yeah) Yeah. Go to bed around 11. Get up at 6. On a good day, sometimes go to bed later.
Todd: Yeah, do you have to have an alarm clock when you get up?
Mike: I sometimes set an alarm if it's a really important day, but I almost never need it, you know what I mean. It's like a back up.
Todd: Right. Right. Yeah, I always wake up at first sunlight, like I can't sleep once it's light outside.
Mike: You're like a natural animal.
Todd: Yeah, exactly, actually I never use an alarm clock. Now you have a beautiful dog. I saw your dog.
Mike: She will sometimes wake us up.
Todd: Yeah, that is what I was wondering.
Mike: Because, like, she has a natural cycle so at six in the morning, bam, you start to hear her wagging her tail or scratching, or trying to get attention. Time to get up.
Todd: That's so cool. I want a dog. Yeah, so do you walk your dog in the morning?
Mike: Yeah, and that's another ritual I have is she needs a walk in the morning, so I've got this route. It's about a two mile walk that we go on. Almost the exact same route every morning. It takes about 30 minutes or so to do, yeah.
Todd: And so, in some countries or places you need a leash for your dog, so your dog can't get away from you. Do you have a leash for your dog?
Mike: Yeah. I keep her on a leash when we're walking were there are other people because you know, a lot of people are not comfortable with big dogs (right) but she'll stay close to me, even without a leash (right) but I do it for their comfort, but if we're in an open area, I'll let her off the leash and she loves that.
Todd: That's so good, because you know I'm a runner and it always freaks me out when I see people with their dogs and their big and the dogs aren't on a leash.
Mike: You kind of wonder, is this dog safe to go past?
Todd: Well, yeah, and plus, I'm running behind the owner of the dogs and so I might startle the owner, and startle the dogs, and the dogs might be protective and attack me, so sometimes I'll holler in advance, "Hey, I'm coming. I'm coming."
Mike: Right, right.
Todd: So. Yeah, cool. Thanks Mike.
back up
I almost never need it, you know what I mean. It's like a back up.
A 'back up' is like a second plan if the first plan fails. We also use this phrase to describe a replacement for something, like a back up cell phone, meaning one that is not used but we have it as a replacement. Notice the following:
- And if that doesn't work we have a back up plan.
- I think I have a back up umbrella in my office.
to get attention
You start to hear her wagging her tail or scratching, or trying to get attention.
If an animal is trying 'to get attention' he wants you to focus on him. Give him a scratch on the ears or pet him. Notice the following:
- She throws her food on the floor to get attention.
- When my cat wants to get attention, she lies on my
computer so I can't work.
leash
In some countries or places you need a leash for your dog.
A 'leash' is a heavy rope used to keep a dog in one place or close to you when you are walking. The leash attaches to a collar which goes around the dog's neck. Notice the following:
- Where is the leash? I want to take the dog for a
walk.
- The police officer told me to keep the dog on a leash.
startle
I'm running behind the owner of the dogs and so I might startle the owner, and startle the dogs.
If someone scares you by coming close to you when you don't see them, they 'startle' you. Notice the following:
- He really startled her when she walked into her office
and he was sitting at her desk.
- I didn't know you were here. You startled me.
protect
The dogs might be protective and attack me.
To 'protect' someone is to keep him safe from injury or danger. Notice the following:
- We bought a dog to protect the house.
- She carried a can of pepper spray to protect herself.
Vocabulary Quiz
startles • protect
