butterfly hope

  I have never been known as a dog person – there are reasons for that; but it is true. However there have been numerous canines that entered my life just at the right time, to teach me the right lesson.  Come with me as I stroll down memory lane to explore my experiences with “man’s best friend.” Perhaps on reflection you may have learned some valuable lessons of your own.

The first dog I remember was our family’s German Shepard – King (such a classic name for a Shepard). King was a protector – especially of my younger brother, Todd, who was three at the time. There was a neighbor child that would tease Todd endlessly to the point of tears. One day this child was up to the usual games – when my older brother lost control of King would he was getting ready to take him for a walk. King raced to the front of the house and chased the harasser home – never to return to bother my brother.

Thank-you, King, for teaching me about loyalty.

Then over the next decade there were innumerable dogs, who names I never knew, that tried really hard to teach me a great lesson. These were the dogs lurking around the corner waiting to bite me. Through most of my teen years I belonged to “the bite of the month club.” As I innocently rode my bike, hiked with my friends, ran an errand to the store – I would be attacked. My arms would be bit, my legs – once a dog made a supernatural leap as I rode by him and landed his teeth in my derriere -ouch.

In reflection I find it curious – I could be riding with numerous friends – hiking with my buddies, be one in a crowd – and I would be the only one bit. I do not remember any of my friends ever even being nipped.  It was conspiracy I thought! Every time I spied a dog on my path –one recurring thought would immediately appear in my mind – “that dog is going to bite me!”

Thank, you to all the dogs who bit me – you were trying to teach me the “laws of attraction.”

My first attempt to own a dog was an Irish Setter, named Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi was a pretty as could be – and exceptionally hyper. There was not a fence he could not scale. It was not unusual for me to come home from work and find him terrorizing the neighborhood.

Thank you Obi for many lessons and the hours of exercise you provided me.

When my son was small, he had problems counting –for whatever reason he always skipped the number two. So – in my infinite wisdom I bought a toy dachshund – and named him “Two.” Unfortunately – one day Two bit Nicholas on the cheek – only after Nicholas had first bit him. One of them had to go – and after careful deliberation we decided to keep the kid.

Thank you, Two, for teaching me patience – in time Nicholas learned how to include the number “two into his counting.

 This brings us to Princess (who I affectionately called Bandit). Bandit was my mother’s Dalmatian. She was a clown on good days. Workmen would come to my mother’s house, and she would sneak into their trucks and steal lunches, tools or anything she could find. Bandit also thought she was a lapdog – often jumping into my lap when I came to for a visit. She was a sweetheart – very loving, very gentle.

Thank you, Bandit, for teaching me to trust – you were truly the first dog I trusted since King.

Then there was Cuddles – a long hair Chihuahua. Another sweetheart of a dog – showing love to almost everyone she met. She could sense when someone was blue or ill – and would stay by their side.

Thank you, Cuddles, for teaching me about unconditional love.

This brings us to Max an adorable Havanese – easily my favorite dog of all time. He is loving, smart, eager to please. When Max first came to stay with me – I barricaded my staircase so he would not go upstairs unless I was home. My upstairs is carpeted – and I was worried it would be a fertile place for Max to relieve himself. I also did not want him to travel upstairs after our morning walks while he was wet from the morning dew or rain. Every day when I left for work, Max got busy finding ways to navigate through the barricade – which he would eventually succeed. This resulted in me building bigger and more elaborate barricades – followed by the same results. One day exasperated – I told Max that he could not go upstairs unless I gave him permission. To my surprise – he listened.

When I feed Max, he takes a bite and walks over to me crunching his food – with a grin on his face showing gratitude.

Max enjoys life – he lives to make other happy. He has never met a stranger –greeting everyone we meet on our walks. Hint Max would not make a good watch dog.

Thank you Max for the continual lessons you are teaching me: Love for life, acceptance of others, gratitude, unconditional love, playfulness………the list goes on and on.

The point of the blog – is to look at the behavior of our canine friends, they may have a few lessons to teach us.

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