To The Dogs

I don't know what I would do without my dog. The
unconditional love that she gives is something I cherish.
It truly makes the heart sing. Then there are those big
brown eyes, elegant muzzle, wagging tail and eager
demeanor. What's not to love?

Okay, having to pick up doggie dodo might not be my
favourite pastime but when it comes from my lovely girl I
don't really mind that much. Besides, I know it is the
right thing to do. Even the inevitable muddy mess in the
car after our walks at the doggie park doesn't really
bother me. I don't even notice the ever present wet dog
smell in the car anymore even though my passengers seem to
judging by their quick action at rolling the window down
for fresh air.

However, what can on occasion get me riled is some of the
other dog owners. If I hear one more time "my little dog
thinks she is a big dog" while it is snapping and barking
wildly at my mid sized girl I think I might lose it. Do
they really think their out of control dog is behaving like
a "big dog"? If a big dog were to actually behave like
this the bylaw officers would be there in a flash, ticket
book in hand insisting on muzzles or even taking them away
for evaluation.

Maybe it's just me but some dog owners just don't get the
whole doggie dynamic. Small dogs behave aggressively out
of fear. Not all of them of course but many do. Fight or
flight is what dogs know. So picking your little dog up
around bigger dogs is just going to take away the flight
option. Isn't it just better to let them do what dogs do?
Let them do the butt sniffing and before long they will be
playing, as dogs will, big or little.


My girl likes to swim. It doesn't matter if it's below
freezing. If there is a stick or ball involved then she
will be after it no matter what. I love that about dogs.
They just love the moment. So what if the water is bloody
cold, there is a stick out there that needs to be
retrieved. It's only better if there is another dog there
that also wants the stick. The chase is on. What fun to
watch the dog's race around the beach after a chunk of
driftwood. It's not really about the stick after all only
the pure joy of the chase. Well that and our loving
adoration while watching.

Then of course there are the sleeping arrangements. I
admit it. I let my little girl sleep on the bed. Maybe it
isn't the right thing to do but there you have it. She is
cozy and warm and I love snuggling up to her. I suppose
she is getting between me and my wife on that snuggling
thing but you can't forget about that unconditional love at
times like that. And she still smells like the beach.

There is an old joke about locking both your wife and your
dog in the trunk of the car and when you open it an hour
later you can see who truly loves you. That might be not
far from the truth. Your faithful companion will come out
wagging and licking while your wife will likely respond a
little less positively. You can be the meanest sonofa b
and your dog will still love you no matter what.

Are dogs just an extension of ourselves? Maybe so. The
type of dog we pick to be our companion must certainly say
something about us. Obviously the Pit Bull and Rottweiler
owner has something they are trying to say through their
dogs. But what about the rest of us? We must surely also
have our personalities reflected in the dogs that we choose
to be our companions.

I'm a retriever man. I have had Golden's. And now I have
a Flatcoated Retriever. I have loved them all. What does
that say about me? I suppose I love a big wet smelly lap
dog. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

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I recently produced the feature film The Harvest Project.
Find out more and view the trailer at
http://www.theharvestprojectmovie.com
The movie is available for download at
http://www.filmannex.com/search/searchkey/harvest%20project
You can contact me at doug_king@shaw.ca

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