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.