I look out of my cage in the back of the car, the muzzle locked over my mouth preventing me from asking my owner what is happening, although he seems angry at me right now, probably cause I keep misbehaving, that is also why I'm muzzled, I spoke human words at him after he ignored my whimpers, I really needed to be let outside after I refused to go when let out earlier. When he yelled at me I was so scared that I peed right on the floor, which only made him angrier. I lower my head in shame and sadness, I hope he still loves me, I never mean to misbehave and he has been so good to me, he became my owner and agreed to look after me as his puppy and this is how I repay him.

"It's alright boy, I know you don't mean to misbehave. I think you just need proper training, so I got in contact with a friend of mine who trains dogs and they have agreed to help train you." That sounds great, my owner is so kind and understanding. 

"It does mean that you will be staying with them for a while." I let out a sad whimper.

"I'll miss you to, but once you are trained we'll be back together. I'm not getting rid of you, I could never do that, this is just a temporary time apart while you get help in being a good boy." I watch as he gets up and closes the car door, a wave of sadness cones over me as I understand that I'll be away from my owner for a while, I haven't been away from him since becoming his pet, although the modifications to my body have made that difficult not to be, my lack of feet make standing beyond all fours impossible and my lack of fingers makes gripping and holding impossible, I rely on my owner for everything and he lovingly provides it, even though I keep misbehaving. But once I'm trained I'll be back with him again, I'll have to do my best and learn quickly, I will be a good boy for my owner. 

The car stops and I feel the fresh air as the door opens, the smell of the outdoors exciting me slightly, although it does also mean that I'm about to be separated from my owner for the first time since my transformation and that scares me. I watch as my cage door is opened and refuse to leave as a wave of fear comes over me, what if my trainer is mean? What if I never get good enough to go home? What if my owner finds a different and better puppy? 

"It's alright, come on. Remember what I said earlier, I'll be back for you soon." I slowly and nervously make my way out of the cage, I want to show my owner how good I can be, not have him leave thinking I'm not a good boy. I feel him stroke me reassuringly and I pant behind my muzzle, part of me wishing I could tell him goodbye but that is exactly the problem, I should tell him like a dog, not a human, I wanted this life, I should be what I am, not cling on to my old life that I willingly abandoned, I need to learn how to get rid of my old habits, I want to be a better puppy. 

"Hello." I look up at the man wearing a dark green shirt with a logo on it, one matching the one on the building. I stay still as he lowers himself down to me and hold out his hand. I take a moment to sniff it, a faint scent of dog treats fills my nose, I like him. I feel his hand gently stroke me and he smiles at me as I remain calm.

"You're a good boy aren't you. I help puppies learn to be good boys, I can tell that you are one and just need a little bit of help." I stand patiently as the two talk, my mind quickly wondering, I try not to focus on what people say unless I'm directly spoken to, I struggle to not join in if I do, I shouldn't speak human but definitely shouldn't concern myself with human affairs, I was never that good at them as a human, that's one of the things that made becoming a puppy so appealing, I want the simple life, to not have to worry about the past and future, to not have to deal with the complexities of human life, to just exist in the moment, my only concern being pleasing my owner. As I wait I sniff the air and listen to the world around me, I pick up the many scents of other dogs, of dog food, grass, the tarmac of the car park and a few more clinical smells, similar to the vets that did my neutering, not that I mind, I was finding the frustration and desires post modification difficult, now those have all gone and don't bother me any more, I also just feel calmer and more submissive since, both good traits for a puppy. I look up at my owner as I feel my leash tug, the trainer taking the end of it from his hands, a slight panic coming over me. I watch as my owner crouches down, his hands stroking my head and he smiles at me lovingly.

"It's alright. I want you to know that I'm not mad at you and I love you. It won't be long before you are back home I promise." He leans in and gently kisses me on the forehead and gets up. 

Feeling the tug of my leash I force myself to obey and walk away from my owner, pausing several times to look back at him, not wanting to part, losing view of him as I am led inside. As I walk in the smell and sound of other dogs is much stronger, several barking loudly. 

"Now then, let's show you to your room for your stay." Frightened of the other dogs, these are ones who misbehave, I eagerly follow my trainer, happy to be taken somewhere safe. We reach a barred kennel, one about 4ft heigh and 6 ft wide and deep, inside are two bowls, one empty and another full of water. Feeling my collar as the leash is unclipped I obediently walk in, wanting to show my trainer how good I am, turning once inside to see how they react.

"Good boy." I feel his hand stroke my head rewardingly.

"Now I need to remove you muzzle so you can eat but one of your bad behaviours is speaking. So I have a training device for you, one we give to dogs who make to much noise and can’t control their barking." I feel a second collar wrap around my neck and look up unsure at my trainer. His hand stroking me reassuringly as he removes my muzzle, allowing me to stick my tongue out as I pant, happy to be free of the muzzle and to receive attention.

"Good boy. No loud noises or you will have to wear the muzzle again, understand?" I lower my head slightly and let out a small whimper.

"Good boy. Now I have to go and train other dogs, you stay here and get to know your new home." At this he closes the caged door and walks away, leaving me alone in my small and dark home.

I move around the space and sniff at the old dog bed in the corner, the strong smell of numerous dogs coming off of it, it may take a while to get used to that. I pace for a while before feeling thirsty and lap at my water bowl, happy to be provided with my drink. 

I walk around the ground of my kennel. My bladder full and uncomfortable. When will they let me out? I try to look down the corridor but see little from my bars. Maybe I should call for help? Before I can stop myself I try to speak but immediately feel a sharp painful shock and stumble to the floor in surprise and shock, my bladder emptying as I hit the floor, creating a small puddle. 

I shake my head as I get up, that is what my new training collar does, I definitely don't want that again. I look down to see my accident on the floor and whimper slightly, I was a bad boy for doing that. Scared of being told off I go to the corner of my kennel and curl up into it to hide. 

I look up as I hear my door open and see my trainer looking in.

"Why are you back there?" I let out a nervous whine.

"Oh dear, you had an accident." I go to explain but feel a shock and let out a whimper. 

"Did you get a bit surprised by your training collar? Come on, I’ll take you to the bathroom." I slowly get up, worried about being punished for my mistake but as I reach the door I feel a gentle hand stroke my back as my leash is clipped on.

"It's alright, everyone makes mistakes and has accidents every now and then, I know you are nervous about being somewhere new and with strangers and other scary dogs. I'm sure you didn't mean it." I obediently follow my trainer as he leads me down the hallway and outside to a patch of soft grass, seeing it I get a bit excited and want to play, moving fast on the ground, enjoying the feeling compared to the hard floor of my kennel.

"You want to play?" 

"Woof!" 

"Good boy. We can play for a bit." I sit patiently as he pulls out a small tennis ball and holds it high above me.

"You ready?" I remain calm and still while eagerly looking at the ball, desperately wanting him to throw it.

"Fetch!" I follow the ball as he throws it and chase after it, quickly finding it in the grass and pick it up, tasting the many other dogs that have played with it as I do. I proudly bring it back and allow him to take it from my mouth.

"Good boy. Want to go again?" I sit and pant happily as he raises the ball up and throws it, barely able to hold myself as I watch it, waiting for the command.

"Fetch!" At the word I jump up and sprint towards it, excitedly picking it up and bringing it back. 

I pant tiredly as my trainer strokes my back, the ball laying on the ground by my front paws.

"You had enough?" I go to speak but remember the last two times and just look at him as I pant with exhaustion. 

"You did really good, I think you deserve a treat." I suddenly get more energetic, excited by the idea of having a treat. 

"Your owner gave us some of your special treats." My owner, he is so thoughtful. I watch as he pulls out a bag of chocolate buttons and pulls one out. 

"Sit." I lick my lips as I do as I'm told. I sniff as he lowers it to my face in his fingers and I carefully take it, making sure not to bite him, tasting the delicious treat that I have earned, happy to be such a good boy.

"Now you should go toilet while we are here, next toilet break isn't till after dinner." I stand and try to pee, still slightly self conscious about going in public, not that I should be, it’s another old habit that I need to learn to break. 

"It's alright just relax." I try to and my trainer waits patiently as a flow of piss begins to stream onto the grass where I'd just been playing, I smile and pant slightly as I do it, happy to have relieved myself. 

"Good boy. Let's get you back to your kennel." Tired I obediently follow, ready to rest inside my home after playing outside. Reaching it I find that my mess has been cleaned up since I was away and I feel relief at my accident disappearing, the thought of it fading from my mind. 

"Rest up, see you later for dinner." I watch as he closes my door and walks away before I move to the now refilled water bowl and lap thirstily at the cool water, gratefully drinking it down. I then tiredly make my way over to the dog bed and slump into it, closing my eyes as I smell the scents of the past dogs who have used it, quickly falling asleep. 

I awake to a growling stomach as I hear my cage open, blinking I see my trainer placing my food into the empty bowl, filling it with my special dog food that my owner makes, cooked mince meat and vegetables, in a thick gravy. I quickly rise to all fours and move over to my food bowl, burying my face into it and happily eating my meal as the cage door shuts, not bothered about being kept inside my home, I feel safe in here and it is also where my food is. 

I lay on the hard floor, waiting patiently as I feel my bladder growing full, part of me does think to call out to be let out but I remember what happened last time and my accident and how pleased my trainer was with me when I went outside, plus they did mention being let out for the bathroom after dinner. 

I hear footsteps coming closer, hopefully it is my trainer, I really need to go outside. I get up and rush to the door as I see them and whine desperately for them to let me out. 

"You need toilet? Alright let's get you outside." I wait patiently for him to clip on my leash, as much as I need to go I don't feel safe here without it. I quickly follow him outside and without thinking immediately go the moment I reach the grass, only realising mid stream that I'm in public, a slight feeling of embarrassment coming over me but I ignore it, I shouldn't care, I need to pee. 

" Good boy." I feel his hand stroke my head and smell the treat in the dark and gently take it from him, chewing on it happily as I walk back inside, proud of myself for not getting worried or nervous. 

Reaching my kennel I step inside and turn as my trainer speaks to me and unclips my leash.

"You have done really well today, you should be proud, keep up the good work and you'll be home in no time. Goodnight." I pant happily at the praise and the idea that I will soon be able to go home. 

I feel slightly scared and frightened as the lights go out, some of the dogs begin to make noises as I curl up on my bed, I can't help but feel lonely and miss my owner, I wonder if he is missing me as well, I’m sure he is, I hope I can see him again soon, I'll do my best to learn to be a good boy for him. 

3 months later: 

I wait patiently by my cage door as the lights come on, my trainer opening the door and walking me outside. Without a care in the world I squat and shit and piss onto the grass, not caring who sees me, just like any other dog. I pant happily as my trainer wipes my ass with a wet wipe and cleans up my mess, not even once do I think of speaking, the training collar no longer around my neck. 

I happily follow my trainer back to my kennel and wait patiently for my breakfast, gratefully eating my meal without a sound. 

"Good news. Today is your last day here. Your owner is coming to collect you today." I look up from my food bowl, forgetting about my meal as I pant with excitement, my front paws moving slightly as I grow impatient. 

"Remember to be a good boy for him, show him how well behaved you have become, I'm sure he'll be very proud of how far you have come along in your training. I'll be slightly sad to see you go, you are such a good boy but I'm also happy cause it means that you are better and ready to live with your owner again." I also feel slightly sad at leaving my trainer but also excited to be going home again and to be with my owner. 

"I'm so glad that you are so happy. Now eat up your dinner like a good boy." Oh yeah, my food! He gives me a loving stroke before closing my cage and walking away, my face buried excitedly in my food bowl. Today I finally go home with my owner. 

I walk out of my kennel one last time, I turn and look at the empty room, part of me will miss it but it is now ready for a new puppy who needs help, my scent added to its bed along with all those before me. I eagerly follow my trainer down the corridor one last time. 

I pant excitedly and bark, jumping as I can't hold back my joy as I see my owner, his face smiling at me as he kneels down and wraps his arms around me. 

"I missed you so much!" I give him a loving lick to show how much I missed him. 

"Are you ready to go home?" 

"Woof!" He smiles and takes my leash.

"Good boy. Let's go home." I look back at my smiling trainer as we leave and excitedly follow my owner to the car, happy to be going home. 

Epilogue:

1 year later:

I raise my head from my dog bed as I hear the doorbell, curious as to who it could be, maybe a friend? I hear a familiar voice and excitedly get up as the visitor walks in, panting happily as I see my trainer. I move over to him and he smiles while bending down and stroking me.

“Hello. I see that you remember me. I also see that you are doing well, your owner has been saying how pleased he is with you.” I pant happily hearing that my owner is so pleased with my behaviour. Since returning home I have done my best to be a good boy. For the first week back I barely left my owners side, although he seemed to not mind, I even slept with him at night for the first two weeks, curled up at the end of his bed, my owner being patient and understanding, reassuring me and making sure that I understand that I am staying home with him. My owner clearly missed me, for several weeks giving me plenty of attention, playing with me several times a day, spoiling me with bacon and chicken in my food bowl, which normally only happens at Christmas or my birthday, my puppy birthday, my human birthday and age forgotten and replaced with the date I became his puppy.

I sit contently next to my owner, not once even thinking of trying to speak as they talk to each other, just happy to be at home with my owner as he lightly strokes my head. I’m grateful to my trainer for helping me be with my owner, I love my owner for being so patient with me and happy to have learnt how to be a good boy.