Sir Spanky the Naughty Aussiedoodle goes to Publix

Spanky Goes to Publix
Written by: Jim, Kimberly, and Ruby Altenberg

Once there was a little puppy named Sir Spanky. Spanky was an Aussie Doodle and he was born in a barn. One day, when he was still quite young, his life changed forever when he was adopted by his forever family. His new family took him home and that is when life with Sir Spanky began.

Spanky quickly learned the names of the people in his new family – Daddy, Mommy, an eight year old girl named Ruby, and his new sister Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl was also a puppy. She was a Golden Doodle. Sir Spanky and Miss Pearl were the same age and quickly became best friends.

As Spanky grew there was something else that his family noticed about him; Spanky was naughty! He didn’t mean to be naughty. He didn’t even know that he was naughty. He couldn’t help it, he was just being Spanky.

Miss Pearl, on the other hand, was a very good dog. She never did anything naughty. She tried to teach Spanky to be a good boy. Whenever Spanky was about to do something naughty she would tell him, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Spanky never listened to Miss Pearl.

One beautiful, fall morning Spanky woke up early. He was very happy that it was Saturday morning. Spanky loved Saturday mornings because Daddy, Mommy, and Ruby didn’t go to work or school. That meant that everyone had time to play with Spanky and Miss Pearl. He was so excited.

He sat by himself, in the dark, for what seemed like a very long time watching Miss Pearl sleep. “I’m bored. It’s Saturday morning and no one is playing with us. Let’s go wake up Daddy and Mommy.” Miss Pearl opened one eye and with a lazy yawn said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Spanky didn’t listen.

Spanky quietly walked into Daddy’s and Mommy’s bedroom. They were both still in bed sound asleep. “Don’t they know that today is Saturday,” he thought. “Don’t they know that it is time to wake up and play?”

Spanky jumped up on the bed. He had to do something to wake Daddy up, but what? First, he stuck his big, cold nose in Daddy’s eye. Daddy stopped snoring and pushed Spanky’s nose away but he didn’t wake up. Spanky thought, “I didn’t really want to do this, but I have to wake him up!’ Spanky stuck out his long, wet, slobbery tongue and he licked Daddy’s face. It was just a short, quick lick on Daddy’s chin but that didn’t wake Daddy up either. So, Spanky stuck out his long, wet, slobbery tongue and licked Daddy’s face again. This time it was a long lick that started on Daddy’s chin, went across his lips, over his nose, and all the way up to his forehead. It worked! Daddy’s eyes popped open in surprise. “SPAAANKYYY!!!”, he yelled. Daddy’s yelling woke the family and Spanky was happy that everyone was finally out of bed.

Soon the fun began. Daddy grabbed Spanky’s rope and began playing tug of war with him. Ruby had Miss Pearl’s favorite stuffed toy and they were happily playing too. Then Mommy asked, “who wants to go to Publix?’ Spanky was always excited about the chance to go anywhere. Mommy said, “OK, it’s cool outside today so Spanky and Miss Pearl can go.” They both ran around the house barking with excitement.

Spanky opened the back door with his nose by pushing up on the door handle as he pulled the door backwards. He and Miss Pearl ran through the door and waited. Mommy opened the door to the minivan and Spanky and Miss Pearl both rushed inside and sat in the two front seats. “Spanky, move over. You’re not driving,” said Daddy. Spanky reluctantly moved out of the driver’s seat to let Daddy in the van. Spanky was sure that he could drive better than Daddy, but he decided that he would try that on another day. Today he was just excited about going to the supermarket.

Miss Pearl sat on Mommy’s lap. Spanky tried to sit on Mommy’s lap too, but there just wasn’t enough room. Spanky was so excited that he barked and whined the entire five miles from the house to the supermarket.

The family was relieved when they finally pulled into the Publix parking lot. Spanky’s constant barking was annoying everyone – even Miss Pearl. As the van stopped Spanky said to Miss Pearl, “I’m bored. I want to go shopping in Publix with Daddy, Mommy, and Ruby.” Miss Pearl said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Spanky didn’t listen.

Spanky had never opened the sliding door on the minivan before, but that wasn’t a problem for a smart dog like Spanky. He had seen Mommy and Ruby open that sliding door many times. He knew that if he pushed that little, black button with his paw that the door would open. As Daddy turned off the engine the family heard the sliding door open and before anyone knew what had happened Spanky jumped out of the minivan and ran as fast as he could across the parking lot right towards the front door of Publix. His family sat silent in disbelief for a few seconds before they all yelled, “SPAAANKYYY!!!”

Daddy shouted, “Hurry, we have to stop him before he gets inside the supermarket”, but it was too late. As Spanky approached the front door the most magical thing he had ever seen happened – the door slid wide open and he ran right inside.

Spanky had never been inside a supermarket before so he didn’t quite know what to expect. Once he was inside the store he paused for a few seconds as he thought to himself, “now that I’m inside what should I do?” As he planned his new adventure he noticed that everyone near the door stopped what they were doing and they all stood motionless and stared at him. “That’s strange,” he thought. “Haven’t they ever seen a dog before?”

Spanky only paused for a moment before he took off running across Publix. He dashed right in front of an elderly woman riding in an electric shopping cart. She was so startled that she screamed loudly as she narrowly avoided running over Spanky. She turned her cart so quickly that she lost control and she crashed into an apple cart in the produce section. Apples bounced all over the floor!

Spanky barely reached the first aisle before Daddy, Mommy, and Ruby burst through the door. Mommy yelled, “Help! Somebody stop that dog!” Daddy ran after Spanky yelling, “SPAAANKYYY!!! You come back here!” Spanky didn’t listen. He ran away as fast as he could.

As Spanky ran away the store manager came out of her office to see what all the commotion was about. Mommy stopped her and explained to her what had happened. The store manager made an announcement over the loud speaker. She said, “Attention all employees, we need your assistance to catch a dog that is loose in the store.” The employees weren’t much help though. They recorded video of Spanky as he ran through the supermarket.

After chasing Spanky up and down a few isles, Ruby finally caught him in isle 6. Daddy and Mommy were very embarrassed. They apologized to the store manager over and over again. They were sure that they would never be allowed to shop in Publix again. The store manager was very nice and assured them that they were still welcome to shop there buy not with Spanky. Daddy and Mommy agreed.

Daddy put a leash on Spanky and the family walked him out of the supermarket. They could still hear people whispering and laughing as they exited the store. As they slowly walked to the minivan Mommy realized that the sliding door was still open. “On no!” Mommy shouted. “We left Miss Pearl in the van by herself with the door wide open!” Mommy frantically ran to the van afraid that Miss Pearl had run off to have an adventure of her own, but Miss Pearl was a very good dog. She never did anything naughty. Miss Pearl was sitting in the front seat of the minivan right where Mommy had left her. Even with the door wide open she never even thought about leaving the van.

The ride home was much quieter than the ride to the store had been. Spanky didn’t bark once all the way home. Daddy, Mommy, and Ruby all sat in their seats silently still stunned by what had just happened.

When they arrived home Daddy, Mommy, and Ruby spent the rest of the morning writing apology letters to the supermarket manager and to the store’s employees. Spanky spent the rest of the morning sitting in the corner by himself. He was very sorry that he had been naught y. He didn’t mean to upset the family and the supermarket people; he just wanted to have a little fun. He couldn’t help it, he was just being Spanky.

At the end of each day, no matter what Spanky did or how naughty he was, his family forgave him. He was their dog and they still loved him. He was very sorry that he had been naughty. He didn’t mean to upset his family, he loved them too. He couldn’t help it, he was just being Spanky. That’s all he knew how to be.

To this day, Sir Spanky is still a “celebrity” at our Publix. They often ask about him and laugh