"Waldo, arm," she said, pointing at Lehrmann.
Waldo turned into a snarling, speeding set of teeth, hurtling toward Lehrmann. The dog leapt, and his jaws closed around the padding on the trainer's shoulder.
"Waldo, here," said Mr, Spinelli.
The dog relinquished his hold immediately and returned to the family.
"Good dog," said Mr. Spinelli.
"Don't forget the meat, Daddy," said Sally.
"Good dog," repeated Mr. Spinelli, handing him a chunk of beef from the reward bag.
Waldo wolfed it down.
"Dog biscuits won't do?" asked Spinelli as Lehrmann stripped off the padding.
"You want to keep him on your side, make it fresh meat," said Lehrmann. "You do want to keep him on your side, don't you?"
"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Spinelli.
"You've invested time and money to get not just a guardian, but a companion and a friend," said Lehrmann, coming forward to rub Waldo's neck. "A long time ago, dogs found us, and learned how to protect us. In exchange, we learned how to feed them, and we fed them well. Co-evolution. Any dog can be trained to attack strangers, but a great dog, like Waldo here, won't be attacking strangers. He will be defending you, because you're his family and he loves you. Remember that. "
"We will," promised Mr. Spinelli.
"Let me get him his new collar," said Lehrmann. "Waldo, come. "
Waldo swallowed the last of his food, and followed Lehrmann to his office in back. The trainer took out a thick, black leather collar and put it around the dog's neck. Waldo looked at him attentively.
"Sorry you can't be here for Christmas, Waldo," said Lehrmann. "But you get to spend it with your new family. They are good people, and they will treat you well. Make me proud. "
The dog nodded, and Lehrmann planted a quick kiss on the top of his head.
"Here's your Christmas dog," Lehrmann said as he brought Waldo back out.
"And here you are," said Mr. Spinelli, handing him a check.
"We'll bring him back for visits," said Mrs. Spinelli.
"I'd like that," said Lehrmann. "It's been a pleasure. "
Waldo woofed at him once as they took him to their car.
"Merry Christmas!" cried the children.
Lehrmann waved, then closed the door and turned back to the rest of the dogs. They looked at him in anticipation.
"Playtime," he called, pressing a switch on the wall, and the doors all swung open at once.
The dogs burst out of the cages and charged madly into the pit, racing and colliding with each other. There was a mad pileup at one end as several skidded into the padding on the curve, launching a number of wrestling matches. As they played, Lehrmann went methodically through the cages, cleaning each thoroughly. Then he went into the walk-in refrigerator and hauled out one of the sides of beef. Using an electric butcher's saw, he hacked it into dog-sized portions. He laid them out in inpidual bowls, then came back out to the arena.
"Chow!" he called, and the dogs abandoned their melee and raced to their cages. He closed the doors, then began distributing the bowls.
While the dogs ate, Lehrmann hauled out an artificial Christmas tree and began stringing lights over its branches.
r /> From the woods at the rear of the warehouse, a man watched through a pair of binoculars, catching glimpses of Lehrmann as he passed by the windows, his arms full of wreaths and ribbons.
"Very festive," muttered the man.