National Dog Day...2022

 I'm one day late. If you spent any time on social media yesterday, you may have seen posts with the #NationalDogDay tag. I usually don't pay attention to National Days because there's so many of them. Pick something and there's a national day for it.

But, I decided to add my post to the others.

Dogs are just that important.

We've got a good one. I'm sure millions of others can say the same thing. Our dog is a standard poodle and a rescue. We got him four years ago and our family's not been the same since...in a good way. He's actually my son's dog, a companion animal for him, and for us, I suppose. Our first family dog was a shih tzu, much different than a poodle. Each have their strengths and weaknesses.

After having a small dog, we couldn't imagine having a large dog. A poodle is by no means the largest of dogs, but it's big for us. He's big enough to steal food from the counter and socks from our closet. He loves our yard now that we've installed a fence and he's loyal beyond my understanding.

Just as I cant't imagine our family without our dog, I can't imagine this world without dogs. They are our protectors, our companions, our confidants, our therapists, and our friends. They will seek the approval and love of people who abuse them. They seem to live only to serve. I'm speaking in generalities, of course, but it feels that way.

Humans have, at least in our society, set aside one day to honor dogs. I believe they deserve much more than a day.

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.