Happy Tails Correctional Babysitting

Happy Tails Correctional Babysitting
By born2beagator


Sandra was at her wit's end with her 13 year old son Max.  She was done with him.  Lucky for her, she had found a unique way to deal with the issue.  She had found a place called "Happy Tails School" that claimed to be able to change disobedient children into pets.  She called without hesitation.  

"Hello, Happy Tails, this is Sarah, the head trainer" Came the voice.

"Hi Sarah, my name is Sandra.  I saw your sign.  What exactly do you mean?"  Sandra asked.

A laugh came through. "Ma'am, it means exactly what it says.  You'll still have a son.  He just won't be...human.  Be sure you want this."

"I do.  I'm done with him.  Nothing works.  At least this way we'll both be happy.  Can you promise me he won't be hurt?"  Sandra said.

"Yes.  He may resist me a little bit, but no kid has been able to stop me.  One more thing.  I'll get you a vacation I'll need some time alone with him to really work my magic.  How about you get yourself a babysitter (me) while you head to the Bahamas for a few days?"  Sarah said.

"That sounds wonderful."  Sandra said.

Max was tired of his mom's nagging.  He just wanted to be left alone this weekend.


"Max, I'm leaving for a bit.  Here is your sitter."  Sandra said opening the door.

A beautiful young women in athletic clothing entered.  "Hey there Max!  I'm Sarah.  You are going to be a good boy for me right?"

"Pssh. What do you think I am, a dog?"  Max scoffed as he headed to his room.

Sarah turned to Sandra.  "Don't worry.  You go relax.  You'll come back to a new pet."  Sandra smiled.

Max lay in his bed.  Of course his mom was going off on vacation without him and he was stuck with a babysitter.  Not just a babysitter, but one that treated him like a little kid.  

"Max!  Come!"  Came the voice of Sarah.

"Who does she think she is?"  Max ignored her.

"MAX, COME!"  Sarah yelled.

This startled Max and made him run down the stairs to see what she wanted.

"Dinner time.  Sit."  Sarah said, indicating the chair. Max sat slowly, still startled at the outburst.

"Here is the deal.  If you are a good boy, we will get along just fine.  Now I have you something special for dinner. Enjoy, and we'll watch a movie after."  Sarah said as she put a bowl in front of him.

Max looked at the bowl.  It was filled with dog food.  "What is this?"  He asked.

"Try it.  Trust me, you will like it."  Sarah said.

Seeing that she wasn't budging, Max spooned a bit in.  He gagged.  But there was something in the aftertaste that made him want more.  He tried again.  It tasted better.  Another.  It was good....and another.  Suddenly he dropped his spoon and dug in face first.  He ate it all, licking the bowl dry.

"Good boy Max! I told you it was good!"  Sarah said.

Max felt something in his throat.  Clearing it, he replied: "Rrrrrrrrthanks.  It was very good!"

"Let's watch a movie before bed boy!"  Sarah said.

This sitter was beginning to grow on Max.  He'd been offended by being called "boy" earlier, but something about it made him feel good now.  The movie started.  
Good dog: A Canine Obedience Training Video.

"Stop the movie. What kind of joke is this?  I'm not a dog.  Put something else on."  Max said.

"No.  This is what we have.  I told you to give the food a try and you ended up liking it.  I think the same will happen here."  Sarah said.

"No.  I don't want to watch it."  Max said plainly.

"If you watch it I'll give you a treat."  Sarah said, pulling out a bone shaped cookie.

Max's mouth watered a bit.  "Oh alright."  Sarah restarted the movie.

You are a Yellow Lab.  A very fun loving and loyal dog.  You feel no need to think about anything but the next few second of your life.  You love your human master above all else and will do anything for her.  You love to bark.  But you look hot.  Try panting.  It will cool you down.

With that the movie stopped.  Max felt strange.  Like his mind was dulled.  But he was hot.  What the movie said last stuck with him.  He stuck his tongue out and panted.  With each pant, his tongue flattened and lowered.  It did the job of cooling him off.  "BARK!"  He blurted out.  Suddenly, as if snapping out of a haze, he felt his tongue hanging all the way down his neck.  He screamed.  "What has happened to me!?"

"Nothing. Panting is how you cool down."  Sarah said.  

Max remembered how hot he was, and how he had cooled off once he started panting.  She was right.

"Time for bed boy.  We'll go for a walk tomorrow."  Sarah said.

Max wanted to talk back, but something about going for a walk appealed to him.  He happily crawled into bed and went to sleep.

Sarah reflected on the night's work.  Aside from the obvious changes in his tongue and the bark that had slipped out, she saw a change in Max's personality begin.  The constant bombardment of canine treatment was slowly but surely wearing him down.  She'd enjoy their walk tomorrow.

Max woke in a puddle of drool.  His tongue was laying out on his pillow.  Slurping it in with difficulty he ran downstairs. "Sarah.  Tell me what is going on, now!"

"Max, quiet."  Sarah said simply.  She was treating him no different than any of the dogs she worked with.  The key to getting them to obey was to be firm, consistent.

Something about the authoritative tone of her voice made the boy shut his mouth.

"I already explained to you.  You need to pant to keep cool.  Stop being silly." Sarah said.

Max realized his error.  He whined a bit.  "I'm sorrrrrry Sarrrrah."  

Sarah smiled.  The boy couldn't speak without rolling his r's.   She expected a lot of barking to slip out on their walk.  "Food boy?"

"Yes please."  Max said politely.

Sarah placed a bowl of dog food in front of him.

Max recognized the food from yesterday.  This time he didn't bother with a spoon at all.  He dove face first into the bowl, determined to wolf it down as quick as he could.  He remembered the walk Sarah had promised.

"Max, here boy!" Sarah called.

Max walked to her, not caring that he was being called "boy" anymore.

"I have something very special for you Max."  Sarah slowly pulled out a blue collar. "Your very own collar."

"What?  I'm not wearing that.  I'm not a dog!"  Max practically yelled.

"Fine then.  We can't go on a walk yet then.  You have to wear a collar so I can put the leash on you."  Sarah chided.

"I'm not a dog!!!"  Max yelled.

"Let's play a game inside to cool down."  Sarah said, ignoring his outbursts.  Despite the dog tongue stuck in his otherwise human mouth, it seemed Max had a ways to go yet.   He'd want his collar eventually.  "Since we can't go for a walk, we will just have to play a game inside."

Max whined.

"Don't give me that.  I gave you a chance.  You'll get another later.  Now the game is called I've always wanted.  It's simple.  All we do is take turns telling each other something we want the most.  You go first."  Sarah said.

"I've always wanted...an Xbox One."  Max started.

"I've always wanted a million dollars."  Sarah said.

"I've always wanted a Ferrari."  Max replied.

"I've always wanted a mustache."  Sarah said in a joking voice.

Max laughed.  He tried to think about something else, and a new thought came to his mind.

"I've always wanted a belly rub."  He said.

"I've always wanted more time off in the week."  Sarah replied.

"I've always wanted an unlimited supply of tennis balls."  Max said.

"I've always wanted people to let me take their picture."  Sarah said hopefully.

"I've always wanted to let my tongue out for someone to take a picture."  Max said.

"Well why don't we do that?"  Sarah asked.

"Good idea."  Max said.  He let his long tongue hang out of his mouth and pant as Sarah snapped a picture.

"I'll be right back Max, stay."  Sarah went in the next room to send the picture to Sandra.

Sandra was relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas when her phone beeped.  She picked it up and saw the message was from Sarah.  Tapping the attachment, she gasped.  It was Max....but a long tongue hung out of his mouth.  A dog tongue.  Sarah was telling the truth.  Smiling, Sandra texted "good job" and went back to sleep.

Max felt strange after that game.  He felt, for lack of a better word, like a dog.  He shook his head of the thought.  As if anyone could even know what that meant.

"You were a good boy in that game Max."  Sarah praised.

Max felt his behind give a slight twitch, as if it wanted to wag back and forth.

"What now?"  He asked.

"Let's watch some more of that movie."  Sarah said.

Max groaned.
As a yellow lab, you have a very strong bark.  You use it whenever instinct tells you to.  Your bark, like all dogs' barks, is very simplistic.  It is so much easier than the complex sounds that humans make.  You should try barking sometime.

Max decided to play along.  "Bark bark bark BARK!"  He hiccupped.  That last bark had been much louder than the mock barks that had come before...and he had felt it deep in his chest.  He tried to make the sound again.  "BARK!"  It sounded incredibly real, and it hurt his throat to do it.  But he remembered the movie.  It had made sense.  Barking was so much simpler and more...no!  He wasn't a dog!

"Another movie Max?"  Sarah asked with a smile.

"Yes please.  How about Homeward Bark-erm Bound?  I haven't seen that in a while."  Of course this wasn't the real reason he wanted to watch this movie.  He just wanted to see the dogs.  But he wasn't going to tell Sarah that.

Sarah watched as Max fixated on the movie, his behind giving a slight wag now and then.  She even heard a couple of barks slip out.

"Pause it there."  Max suddenly said.

Sarah paused it on a picture of a close up of Shadow's neck, showing his collar.  She smiled.  That didn't take long.  She knew what Max was going to say next.

"I need one of those in case I get lost." Max said, pointing at the collar.  

"You didn't want it earlier."  Sarah said, playing hard to get.

"Well I bark my mind!"  Max said, not even noticing the bark that slipped into his speech.  "I want my collar!"

Sarah smiled.  She was going to make him work for it.  His collar was a big step his change.  Once that went on, there was no going back.  "One thing first.  Bath."

The idea revolted him for some reason.  "If it means I get my collarrrrrr. Then fine."

Max got into the tub and prepared to take a shower, when he realized he had forgotten how.  "Sarrrah! I need help!"  

"Certainly boy!  I even brought your shampoo." Sarah said, holding up a bottle of yellow liquid.  "I'll be right back, I need to get you a towel."

Max stood alone in the bathroom.  He was thirsty.  Thankfully he saw the toilet there, full of cool water.  His tongue started to hang out and he was drawn to the toilet.  Common sense was telling him that this was nasty.  But he wanted a drink.  Unwilling and unable to resist he lowered his head into the bowl and began lapping up the water.  Max heard Sarah reenter and he sprang up.  "What!?"  he asked, trying to sound surprised.

"Oh it's fine.  You were thirsty, and that was the only water around.  I get it."  Sarah said.

"What?"  Max said, still trying to feign innocence.

"You were drinking out of the toilet.  It's okay, you are still a good boy."  Sarah said.

Max was about to protest, but something about being called a good boy spoke to him.  He liked it.  Airing on the side of prudence, he decided to let it go.

"Bath time now."  Sarah said.

Max got into the tub.  He looked at the knob and the shower head.  But they confused him.  "Uh Sarah?  How do I do this?"  He asked.

"Oh you don't worry about that boy.  I'll wash you." Sarah said, pouring some of the yellow liquid into her hands.  She watched as Max closed his eyes and let his tongue fall out, enjoying the warm water.  Smiling she began to wash him with the shampoo.  Max panted hard as he leaned into her hands.  As she rubbed over his body, she laughed as she watched the boy's head hair turn a bright yellow color.  She kept rubbing it and felt it start to resist her rubbing a bit as it got rougher.  By the time she was done, she tried to suppress a hysterical laugh.  His head hair had changed into fur, but it still had his style to it.  That would have to be corrected eventually, but she left it for now.  All of his hair followed suite, but to avoid going too far at once, she just changed its color.  "All done!  You were a very good boy Max!"  She got up so he could get dressed.

"Uh?  Bark!"  He cleared his throat. "Towel?"  Max asked, dripping wet.

"You like Taylor Swift right?"  Sarah joked. "Shake it off, shake it off!"  She sang.

Max laughed.  She was right.  He didn't need a towel.  He shook himself violently as Sarah left.  It was a lot more efficient than a towel, and he was dry in no time.  He got out of the shower and went to the mirror to brush his hair.  He stopped when he saw his reflection.  His hair was yellow.  He was about to call for Sarah when he realized that it had always been yellow.  He picked up the brush to brush it.  But it kept getting caught in his hair.  "Sarah!  This brush doesn't work!'

"I left a new one for you, in the cupboard!"  She called up to him.

Max looked in the cupboard, there was a strong metal comb.  He tried it and realized that it worked perfectly for his tough hair.  Getting dressed, he headed downstairs.  It was afternoon and Max wanted to take a walk now.  Maybe she'd give him his collar?  A sudden upwelling in his mind made him freeze.  A voice screamed in his head "Stop Max!  This isn't you! Can't you see what she is treating you like?"  He screamed back "This is me!  Sarah is being very kind to me and I like her!"  The annoying voice quelled, he entered the kitchen.  A bark slipped out as he started talking.  "ArkWalk?"  He asked hopefully.  "And collar?"

Sarah smiled.  "Certainly, your hair looks great now!  But...I'm not giving you your collar quite yet.  It's not ready."  She lied.  "We'll use this one, here."  She held out an old leather one.  Max held it but didn't appear able to put it one.  "Here let me help."  Sarah snapped it on.

"Thanks Sarah!"  Max said.  The two headed out.

As Max walked he felt a constant urge to go running off.  But he didn't want to upset Sarah and get a bad report given to his mom, so he stayed by her side.  They eventually ran into his neighbor, Judy.  

"Oh hey Max!  I hear mom is off on vacation."  Judy said.

"Yeah, but Sarah is pretty cool."  Max replied.

"I love how you dyed your hair yellow Max!  It looks great, looks like a different texture too.  Mind if I feel it?"  Judy asked.

The idea of her rubbing his head appealed to him.  "Of course!"

Judy ran her hands through his hair.  Max's tongue fell out of the side of his mouth, panting contentedly. When this happened, something changed in the look on Judy's face.

"You are such a good boy Max!" She said in a babyish voice.  "Who's a good boy?"

"I'm a good bar-oy!"  Max said.  That annoying voice returned in his head, urging him that this was not normal, but being called that felt too good to be bad.  Max pushed the voice out.

"You and Sarah have fun!"  Judy called as she jogged off.

Max followed Sarah down the street.  Suddenly something caught his eyes.  "SQUIRREL!!!!!"  He yelled, and tore off after it, two legs carrying him as fast as he could, tongue flying in the wind.

"Max!  COME!" Sarah yelled.  She should have known...

"SQUIRREL SQU-ARK-IRRELL BARKSQUIRRELL BARK!"  Max continued chasing it.   Max almost had it...almost...almost...No!  It ran up a tree!  He stood at the bottom, arms reaching up and behind waving.  He wanted it!

Sarah relaxed a bit as she heard numerous dog barks breaking through his language.  He wouldn't go far, and this would be an excuse to get a leash on him next time.  She laughed as she saw him run to the tree the squirrel escaped into, arms reaching up the tree, and mouth yelling at it.  Then something went wrong.  It was going too fast.  His behind was waving back and forth furiously, and Sarah saw a slight twitch on his backside.  As she watched, the twitch became a slight lump.  It twitched again and grew a centimeter larger.  Max was so engrossed in his canine side that his human body couldn't take it and was forcing a tail out to deal with the problem.   His yells had also been replaced with barks.  She didn't want this to go that fast, she wanted to change him herself and if she didn't stop this he'd be a dog right here and now.  She called to him as if he were a human boy.  "Max, we need to head back!"  Sarah sighed in relief as she saw him stop barking and the lump stop growing.  

"Sure thing Sarah!"  Called Max in perfect English, forgetting the squirrel.

Not seeing the boy spontaneously bursting into fur, tail, and muzzle she decided it was safe to return to the plan.  "Here is the deal boy.  Tomorrow I will have your collar ready...BUT!"  She said as Max started to wave his behind excitedly.  "You ran off today.  From now on we are going to have to have you on a leash.  Understand?"  

"Yes ma'am..." he said, downtrodden.  At least he was getting his collar thought.  He felt his body seize up.  The voice returned.  "STOP!  Can't you see what is happening here Max!?  Feel your behind!"  For the first time, Max obeyed the annoying voice.  He felt the small of his back, and found a soft lump covered in fuzz.  "You know what that is don't you?"  The voice said.  

Sarah saw Max freeze.  She knew there was an internal struggle between the human and the dog happening in there.  She silently cheered for the dog side.  This was an important point.  The dog needed to get the human side to see its way of thinking.  Sarah hoped that its foothold was strong enough.
______________________________________________________________
*Internal Struggle*
Max was about to see reason, when another voice broke through, much stronger.  But it seemed to be talking to the original voice.    Max felt like a spectator.  

"BARK I know what that is BARK...and I know you BARK want it to finish!"    The new voice said.  

Max found himself swinging the way of this newcomer.  

The original fired back. "No, I don't.   It's not natural..."

The new voice interrupted.  "BARK Sure it is!  If it was bad BARK would Max not be fighting more?"  

There was a pause.  Max agreed the new voice made sense.  

The old voice seemed to change its tone.  "You know what I...think you are right!"  Suddenly Max couldn't distinguish the voices.  They had melded into one, the one with the barks intermingled seemed to have won.

Sarah probed at Max.  She'd have to take drastic measures if the human had won.  "Max, you want your collar tomorrow right?"

"Of course Sarah!  BARK!"  Max replied.

Sarah sighed with relief and patted his head.  "Let's go home."

The walk home was uneventful.  It was dark by the time they reached the house.  Max panted contentedly as the mental war seemed to have finally stopped.  He scratched at the fuzzy lump on his behind.  
It felt really good to itch it.  Finally they arrived home.  He was hungry.  "Sarah, can I have dinner now?"  

"Sure thing boy.  Tell me you want it properly."  Sarah said.

The voice in Max's head was helping him now.  "BARK She wants you to beg.  Sit on your behind carefully BARK and hold your hands in front of you." Max took his advice.  He careful sat down on his behind, and felt a pain when he sat on the lump.  Adjusting so the lump wasn't against the floor, he put his elbows against his chest, forearms up, and let his wrists hang limp.  "MmmMmmMmm Can I please have dinner?"  He said, attempting to sound as pitiful as possible.

"Of course, good boy!"  She set the bowl on the table to see if he'd still eat there.  She sighed as she saw him gingerly sit down.  So he wasn't that far yet.  At least he didn't even ask for a spoon, electing to dive right in.  

Max licked the rest of his bowl clean and gave a yawn.

"Tired boy?  Why don't you go to bed?  Tomorrow you get your collar!"  Sarah said.

Max agreed.  He wanted to get to tomorrow as quick as possible.  He went up to his bed and feel asleep.

That night Max had dreams about dogs the entire night.  Particularly yellow labs.  He loved how sleek and athletic they were.  The dream changed to the dogs sleeping, but they were curled up on the floor.

Back in his room Max sleepily arose and got out of his bed.  Curling up on the floor, he felt much more comfortable, and fell soundly asleep.  His dream took a turn here, and the mental warfare returned.  This time it was hard to tell the difference as one voice seemed to be putting up a failing effort and sounded very similar to the voice that had shown up earlier.  Max sat back and watched.

"No!  He is not like youark!"  The original voice seemed to stop.  

"BARK Oh really?  It seems that BARK you are like me!  Let him go be what he is BARK!"  The strong voice said.

The weak voice snapped.  "BARK BARK BARK!!!!"

"BARK Finally, that annoying pest is BARK gone! Have fun Max!'" The voice said to him.

Glad to be rid of the other voice, Max slept on.  With the defeat of the human voice, his human body was confused.  It stimulated the follicles of his ears to spout short, velvety yellow fur.  The tips grew pointed, and suddenly they expanded, growing, growing, until they flopped over.  His body wasn't quite sure what to do with the lump on his behind so it pushed it out just a bit more.  Max scratched his ears in his sleep, and that drew a contented whine from him.  He sank deeper into sleep.

Max felt different that morning.  He felt free.  Getting up, he went to the bathroom and unthinkingly lapped up some water from the toilet.  He then went to get dressed.  He carefully pulled his long jeans on over the one inch lump on his behind, pulled a shirt on, and headed downstairs.

"Morning boy, no eggs today."  Sarah said happily as she saw the boy's floppy yellow-furred ears perk up.  She set down the bowl on the floor, seeing if he'd take the bait.

Max ran to the bowl and sat down, plowing into it with gusto.  

He looked up to Sarah with a sharp toothed smile.  

"Good boy!  You ate all your food!  Yes you did!"  Sarah said  "Hey let's play I have always again!"

Max was excited.  He felt an urge welling in his throat.  "BARK BARK!  That is a good idea Sarah.  I'll BARK!"  He said.

"Bark always bark!"  Max said.

Sarah laughed.  "Okay my turn.

"I have always wanted to bark."  Sarah said, and shook her head.  She froze, feeling a tingle in her behind and her ears.  A shaking hand reached back and felt a furry lump.  Reaching up, she found her ears tall and pointed above her head.  There was always a risk with her kind of magic that some could seep to her.  Luckily she was powerful enough to will it way.  The bump receded and her ears shrank.  "Okay, your turn."

"I have always loved dog food!"  Max said.

"I have always loved sticks!"  Sarah said.  Hitting her forehead, she willed the doggish thought out.

"I have bark always loved chasing!"  Max said.

"I have always loved pizza."  Sighing in relief at the return to complete human thought, Sarah motioned to Max.

"I have always loved my tail."  Max said.

Sarah looked behind him and laughed as she watched the lump grow and snake down his pant leg.  She'd let him keep his pants on till tonight, she knew that her subjects always liked the feeling of their tail trying to break free.  She didn't think he'd want them tomorrow anyways.  "Guess what time it is!"  Sarah said.

"BARK COLLAR BARK BARK BARK!"  Max said excitedly.

"That is right boy!"  She pulled out a shiny collar with his name emblazoned on it.  She clicked it around his neck.

Max sat proudly.  His very own collar!  

"Bark bark bark!  You've been a good boy!  You've earned it!  But now I think it's time you spoke like your true self" The voice said to him.

Suddenly, Max broke into a fit of barking.  He couldn't stop, and each bark made his throat feel better and better until he didn't want to do anything else.

Max didn't notice it, but Sarah watched as each bark pushed his face out.  By the time his fit was over, the head of a yellow Labrador looked at her with it's tongue hanging out. With him unable to speak, Sarah decided it was time to move things along.  Max wouldn't be coming home on two legs tonight.  "Okay boy!  WALK TIME!"

"BARK BARK!"  Max said, itching as he felt his fur spread into his shirt.

Sarah attached the leash and led him out.  "Boy, why are you walking like that?  Isn't it hard?"

Max was a bit confused.  He didn't really understand her.  But he did understand the voice in his head.

"She wants you to walk normally."  It said.

Max got it.  He fell to his hands and knees.  

Sarah smiled as he fell to all fours.  The moment his hands touched the ground, both his body went through a drastic change.  His arms covered themselves with yellow fur, hands puffed into paws.  His legs shortened until his back paws could walk on the flats.  Finally his chest and torso barreled out.  He started scratching madly.  Sarah laughed.  He must be covered in fur under his clothes.  She watched as Max put his forelegs in front of him and wiggled out of his shirt, revealing his yellow fur.  Sarah went to help with his pants.

"BARK!"  Max said.

Sarah understood.  She saw his tail bent over in his pant leg, wagging. You know what, it's late.  Let's go home.

Max couldn't understand the human, he just let her lead.  He did so enjoy the feel of his tail bent against the strange fabric on his hindquarters though.  Finally they got to his territory.  Barking happily he ran in and plowed into his food.  

Sarah watched the yellow lab with pants eating.  Finally, his pants gave way, releasing his tail and falling away.  The dog suddenly looked tired.  He yawned and curled up near the couch.  Sarah suddenly felt a pressure in her behind.  She moaned in pleasure as she felt something press against her pants.  

A voice entered her head.  "BARK Let it out.  You know you want to!"  

CRAP.  She thought.  Being around so many transformations, the magic was definitely seeping into her.  She was hearing a dog in her mind.  That meant she would have to constantly fight it the next time she did something like this.  Once the dog got into your mind, it never left.  She violently repressed it and felt the tail recede.  

"You can't Bark hold me back forever.  You have Bark messed with powers far beyond Bark your control!"  The dog in her mind laughed.

Sarah shivered.  But she knew she could control it.  Time to call Sandra

Sandra returned from her vacation the next day.  She heard barking from the house.  Sarah cracked the door.

"Meet Max."  She said.  

The door opened and a yellow lab bounded out, licking Sandra's face.

"Oh Sarah, how can I ever repay you?"  Sandra asked.

"Take good care of him."  Sarah said.

Sarah laid down to rest, happy with her days work.  As she fell asleep, a voice whispered in her mind.
"BARK You can't deny me forever Sarah!  You have a Bark dog in you now!  It bark WILL come out!"

Too be continued?