Holly gets a pet dog. She’s so happy, and the dog is happy, too! “I want to call him Eco,” says Holly. “Come here, Eco!” And Eco wags (摇摆) his tail.

“That dog is your responsibility (责任), Holly,” says her father. “No problem!” Holly agrees.

Before school, Holly takes Eco for his first morning walk. She feels very tired. It’s really cold and dark—and it’s so early! But Eco doesn’t mind. He runs, stops, runs again, sees a black cat, tries to run after it and nearly pulls Holly off her feet!

Holly realizes it’s late when she gets back from the walk. She quickly eats a piece of bread, takes her bag and jacket, and runs to school.

What a busy morning! But that’s not all for looking after a pet dog.

When Holly takes Eco for his evening walk, it’s quite dark outside. Holly feels nervous. She runs along the road with him, but it’s difficult. Because Eco often stops to study the bushes and trees. And he often tries to catch birds, or play with sticks and fallen leaves.

A few days go by. Then…

It’s raining outside. Eco enters…and the trouble starts. Eco’s dirty paws leave prints everywhere, on the floor, on the blanket, on the sofa…“Come here, Eco!” says Holly. She wants to stop him, but it doesn’t work.

Holly gets really angry now. She decides to punish Eco. So that night Eco is kept in the green house alone.

When Holly enters the green house next morning, it’s a disaster. Her mum’s plants and flowers are lying on their sides or on the floor. And the pots (花盆) are broken into a hundred pieces. And Eco is sitting in the soil and leaves.

“Oh, no,” says Holly. She realizes it’s time to train the dog. “He needs to know the rules.”

Every day after school, Holly repeats simple orders to Eco. If he can do as ordered, he can get nice bones. The amazing thing is, Eco really enjoys it. For him, it’s one big game.

So Eco learns to sit when Holly says, “Sit!” He learns to come when Holly says, “Come here!”…And he doesn’t get into trouble!