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“I’m fat.”

My heart ached.

“I’m not an expert on humans.”Jordan offered a smile.“But Wally needs plenty of exercise.”

“And I need to take care of him.”Phillip jutted his chin.“So I have to do better.”

I was working off the assumption that Jordan knew Wally was newly in Phillip’s care.That Phillip’s neglect wasn’t the reason the dog was overweight.

When Wally stood, he looked a little less…rotund.When he flopped on his side and his belly settled, though, I couldn’t miss the bulk.

“Do you have some kibble?”Jordan eased his gaze to Phillip while remaining turned toward Wally.

“Yeah, I do.Let me go get it.”Phillip headed back to the house.

Wally made to follow.

“Wally, sit,” Jordan said firmly.

The dog stopped and cocked his head.

Jordan chuckled.“Either we need to go back to basics, or he’s not sure I have the authority to tell him what to do.”He glanced over at me.“I brought some high-quality you-know-whats, but we may as well wait for Phillip.”

I wasn’t certain what high quality meant.

Phillip reappeared with a handful of kibble.

Jordan held out his hand and Phillip dropped the kibble into it.

One piece fell.

Wally lunged.

“Leave it.”Jordan snapped the order.

Wally slowed.He gazed back and forth between the two men, probably calculating his chances.

Jordan pocketed the extra kibble, then slowly crouched, never breaking eye contact with the dog.“Good dog.”

Said dog rocked back into a sitting position.Jordan passed him a bite of kibble from his pocket in reward.

“Why is he good?I mean, I guess it’s because he didn’t pick up the fallen kibble, right?”Phillip brushed his hair from his sweaty forehead.

Will Jordan notice he’s overheated?They should be in the shade.Or better, inside.

“Yes.Why don’t we head inside in a minute?”Jordan set down another piece of food beside the first.

Wally lunged.

“Leave it.”Jordan put his hand over the kibble.“Sit.”

Wally plopped back onto his butt.

“Good boy.”Jordan held out a reward from his pocket.

The dog gently snagged the bite of food from his fingers.

The trainer picked up the two bits off the grass and rose.“This is really good, Phillip.I have to be honest, I wasn’t certain what to expect.But he’s got an understanding of some commands.We can go inside where he won’t be distracted.I can take him through his paces, and we’ll create a training plan from there.”Jordan offered a beaming smile.“I think you two will be in sync in no time.”