How I learned to win over a new dog

Kidsday reporter Christopher Mathers of Wading River Elementary School with Gigi, the dog he was caring for. Credit: Donna Pace
I love dogs. I think they are cute because they are very playful. I especially love them because they don't run out of energy. You can play all the time.
One time my mom’s friend went on a trip and we got to watch her little Pomeranian, Gigi. At first Gigi didn't like me. I chased her around to try to pet her.
I was watching TV and I thought I would give her a treat. When Gigi was eating the treat, I started to pet her. I won her trust. Who knew a treat could make a dog so happy? Gigi would follow me everywhere. When I sat on the couch, she sat on the couch. When I went upstairs, she went upstairs. Gigi loves to play ball. She will play for hours.
I love Gigi's size because I love tiny dogs. You can pick her up very easily. She may be a small dog, but she has a lot of energy. Gigi is very smart and she is a very good listener. She always stays when we tell her to. She growls when our dog comes near us, but they don't fight.
Although Gigi loves us, she is always very happy to go back home with her real owner. I can’t wait to get Gigi again.
Melissa Levonick’s fifth-grade class, Wading River Elementary School