Munch! Munch! Crunch! Dudley the dog stood at his food bowl, eating his breakfast.

“Good morning, Dudley!” Polly Parrot sang from her perch in the family room. “The sun is shining. Why don't you come in here and sit in your happy spot? I have some happy news to tell you.”

“Happy news?” Dudley asked, leaving his food bowl and trotting toward the family room. He sat down under the skylight where the sun made a golden patch on the floor. It was his favorite place to sit.

The warm sun felt good on his back. Dudley wagged his tail and looked up at Polly. “What is the news?”

“You get to go to school!” Polly said.

“School?” Dudley asked. “What is school?”

“Doggie Obedience School,” Polly explained. “You get to learn new things and make new friends and eat new snacks. Doesn't that sound like fun?”

“I don't know,” Dudley said. He lay down and rested his head on his paws. “Going to school sounds a little scary. Can you come with me?”

“Polly and I can't come to your school,” Cleo the Cat said, walking into the room. “We're not dogs. But Biscuit will be there.”

“Biscuit?” Dudley asked, feeling a little better. Biscuit lived next door. She was Dudley's friend.

“Yes,” Cleo said. “I was just outside, and I saw Biscuit leave in her car.”

“You'd better hurry,” Polly said. “Get your leash!”

Dudley found his leash and jumped into the car. When they got to school, Dudley's owner led him into the classroom. Dudley saw Biscuit across the room. Dudley tried to be brave, but he couldn't help tucking his tail between his legs.

“Welcome to the first day of school,” a woman said. “My name is Mrs. Smart. I'm the teacher.”

Dudley tried to wag his tail, but it wasn't working very well. There are so many new dogs here, Dudley thought. There are so many new smells.

“Let's all gather in one big circle,” Mrs. Smart said.

Dudley followed his owner and stood in the circle. He tried to do everything Mrs. Smart said. When he did something right, his owner gave him a treat. But some things were tough. When his owner said, “Sit!” Dudley wasn't quite sure what to do. Dudley barked and wagged his tail. His owner gave Dudley a gentle push until he sat down like all the other dogs.

Twe-e-e-et! Mrs. Smart blew a little whistle that she wore around her neck. “Good job, everyone! Now it's time to play outside.”

All the dogs were let off their leashes to run around a playground just for them. Dudley raced over to Biscuit.

“Come on,” Biscuit said, sniffing noses with Dudley. “Let's play!”

Dudley and Biscuit ran through a little tunnel just their size. Someone threw a Frisbee. Dudley and Biscuit took turns catching it. Twe-e-e-et! Mrs. Smart blew her whistle again.

“Time to go home,” Mrs. Smart announced.

Dudley found his owner, jumped in the car and headed for home.

“I'm back!” Dudley called racing to the backyard where he knew he would find his friends. “I'm home from my first day of school!”

Polly and Cleo were taking naps in the sun. Cleo woke up and stretched.

Polly opened her eyes and fluttered her wings. “How was school?” she asked.

“Great!” Dudley said, wagging his tail. “We learned how to walk in a line without running away. We played on a special playground built just for dogs. And my owner even gave me my favorite treat—mini Beef-O- Bites!”

Cleo rubbed up against Dudley's shoulder. “I'm so glad you liked your first day at school.”

Suddenly Dudley remembered something. “I have homework,” he said. “I have to practice how to sit.” He looked sideways at Cleo. “I don't do it very well yet.” His ears drooped.

“That's OK,” Polly said. “We'll help you practice.”

“You will?” Dudley asked.

“Sure!” Cleo said. “Let's practice right now.”

“Start walking around the yard,” Polly instructed.

Dudley walked toward the flower garden where his favorite tennis ball lay in the grass.

“Sit!” Polly called out.

Dudley sat.

“Perfect!” Cleo purred.

“Now run around the yard!” Polly said.

Dudley picked up the tennis ball in his mouth. He trotted around the yard.

“Sit!” Polly commanded.

Dudley dropped on his haunches and sat.

“Very good!” Polly said. “Now play tag with Cleo.”

Dudley dropped his tennis ball. Arf! Arf! Arf! he barked, chasing Cleo around the yard.

“Sit!” Polly called out, but Dudley forgot what he was supposed to do. He kept chasing Cleo. Arf! Arf! Arf!

“Sit!” Polly said again.

Cleo stopped in her tracks. Dudley bumped into her and stopped, too.

“Try to listen and remember what to do,” Cleo encouraged. She smiled at Dudley.

“Sit!” Polly said, one more time.

“Oh, yes! Now I remember,” Dudley said. He sat.

“Bravo!” Cleo and Polly cheered.

“Thanks for your help,” Dudley said, looking at his friends. “You were right. School is fun!” He wagged his tail. “And the best part is, I get to go back tomorrow!”