Llewellyn wasn’t exactly going to nudge or call Tommy out on the obvious nerves. He already understood Tommy wasn’t great with dogs, despite his offer to help, and it wasn’t hard to put some idea together with a few things he’d said since arriving. Including the ‘no biting’ request.

Pretzel, though? He tilted his head with an alert little lift of his ears, snuffling lightly at the offered treats in the man’s hand. Then he took them from the man and licked the crumbs up out of Tommy’s hand. Sure there was slobber, but definitely no hand biting.

He knew he was a good boy, but he was happy to be called one regularly.