We recently added a new family member, a cute, brindle mixed breed pup named Fenway. He’s adorable, but a ball of fire. Not long after we decorated our authentic Christmas tree, did we notice a distinct foul-smelling odor.

What does the idiom a ball of fire mean in the passage?

We recently added a new family member, a cute, brindle mixed breed pup named Fenway. He’s adorable, but a ball of fire. Not long after we decorated our authentic Christmas tree, did we notice a distinct foul-smelling odor.

What does the word distinct mean in the passage?

Let’s describe it as a mixture of sweet balsam fir and unpleasant ammonia. YUCK! How can we get him to stop thinking he has an indoor potty for Christmas?

Which word is a synonym to the word unpleasant?

A lot of dogs get confused when there’s suddenly a tree in the house, especially a real one. Imagine all the smells of nature. The people in the house get that it’s a Christmas tree, but a dog is not quite sure and taken aback. Dealing with a dog that pees on a holiday tree requires the exact same type of management, redirection, and reinforcement that potty training a puppy requires. Here is a protocol for managing and training a dog that marks on the Christmas tree.

What word or phrase in the paragraph gives the best clue to the meaning of the idiom taken aback?

A lot of dogs get confused when there’s suddenly a tree in the house, especially a real one. Imagine all the smells of nature. The people in the house get that it’s a Christmas tree, but a dog is not quite sure and taken aback. Dealing with a dog that pees on a holiday tree requires the exact same type of management, redirection, and reinforcement that potty training a puppy requires. Here is a protocol for managing and training a dog that marks on the Christmas tree.

Knowing the meaning of the prefix re- helps you know that redirection means -

A lot of dogs get confused when there’s suddenly a tree in the house, especially a real one. Imagine all the smells of nature. The people in the house get that it’s a Christmas tree, but a dog is not quite sure and taken aback. Dealing with a dog that pees on a holiday tree requires the exact same type of management, redirection, and reinforcement that potty training a puppy requires. Here is a protocol for managing and training a dog that marks on the Christmas tree.

What word has a similar meaning to the word protocol?

A lot of dogs get confused when there’s suddenly a tree in the house, especially a real one. Imagine all the smells of nature. The people in the house get that it’s a Christmas tree, but a dog is not quite sure and taken aback. Dealing with a dog that pees on a holiday tree requires the exact same type of management, redirection, and reinforcement that potty training a puppy requires. Here is a protocol for managing and training a dog that marks on the Christmas tree.

mark (v)

1. To make a spot, line, or dent

2. To claim something as yours

3. To give a grade based on a scale

4. To take note in writing; write

Read the dictionary entry for the word mark. What definition best matches the way word mark was used?

Tips to Avert the Potty Problem:

1. Your dog should never have unsupervised access to the Christmas Tree. If you are unable to watch him around the tree, you must crate or gate them elsewhere in the house.

What word would be an antonym to the word avert?

Your dog should never have unsupervised access to the Christmas Tree. If you are unable to watch him around the tree, you must crate or gate them elsewhere in the house.

What does the word access mean in the passage?