Give Thanks...Dogs

 Man's best friend.

I have no scientific proof to know if that statement is true, but I do know that dogs and humans have had a symbiotic relationship that has existed--I would imagine--since there's been dogs and humans. Tonight, the Westminster Dog Show is on TV. For some, I'll bet, the show represents everything that's wrong about humans and dogs. 

They have valid points.

But, as we watch our standard poodle--a dog we rescued--run around the house, chase toys, bark when the sprinklers start in the back yard, and lay down by us and place his head in our laps as we pet him, the TV show reminds us how much we love dogs.

A dog is the perfect companion animal, support animal, rescue animal, hunting animal, work animal. I challenge anyone to find better. I know many can't have dogs in their lives, or chose not to. That's their decision and I respect it. Having a dog is one of the great joys of life.

When I think of the phrase, "Man's best friend," I think I've always thought of it from the human's perspective. Are dogs really our best friends? But, when I think about it, maybe I should be looking at the phrase from the dog's point of view.

And when I do, it makes a lot more sense.

We're the dog's best friend.

That much, is obvious.

Leo...

You know how your perspective changes when you're used to one thing then see something else? I remember, after living in Europe for a couple of years, I got used to the narrow streets, the small homes and apartments, pretty much everything.

When I returned, I walked into my childhood home, looked at the kitchen/dining room space, and said, "It's so big." My mother said that my older brother had the exact same reaction when he returned home after living in Japan for over a year. I had never thought of that space as "big" before, but when I got home, it was huge. The smallness of Europe had become normal.

The same thing happens to me when I see Leo. He's a tiny dog who lives close by. I'm sure he's not the tiniest dog in existence, but when you live with a standard poodle , a small dog looks tiny and a tiny dog looks so small, you wonder if it's actually a dog, and not something else.

Leo couldn't be cuter. He yaps a little (which you can barely hear...), so when you go over to him, he is so excited, he runs to the fence and waits for you to pet him. So, of course, that's what I did. As I walked away, he just stood there behind his little fence. I had to take a picture.

Being around a large dog, you get used to how big it is, how loud it is, how you can wear yourself out just by petting him. Looking at Leo, it changes your whole perspective.

Our Son's Dog Watching Venture...

More Picture Memories From The Past...

Years ago our oldest child had an idea. Why not start a dog walking/watching business? It never did materialize. I don't know if not starting the business was due to one reason or many, but the answer to the question of why not start this particular business could be as simple as, because we just didn't.

EMMA

For some kids, dogs are not a good match. It's understandable how dogs can be scary, especially when the animals are larger than the child themselves. Our son did not share this fear. He loved dogs and this love of animals made him think of the business idea.

DAKOTA

We took some pictures (sorry for the quality...I think we used a 1.3 megapixel point-n-shoot...) to make a flyer. You gotta advertise!

CHARLIE

Unfortunately, none of these dogs, I believe, are still with us. I know of two that have gone to chase rabbits on a rich uncle's ranch somewhere. Charlie, the shih tzu, was a family favorite. The first time we ever heard our first son really laugh--not just giggle, but "America's Funniest Home Videos winner, would have received a million YouTube hits had YouTube been around at the time" laugh was when he first met Charlie. He was a great dog and he's missed.