What is it that makes us choose the one we want? If it is from a litter of pups, they all may look the same but from the moment that something "clicks" with one of them, we are done for! Do you choose "the loner"? The "bruiser"? The "cutest"? or?? You just know when you pick them up that one of them is "IT". If you are selecting from a Humane Society, then there are all kinds of different ages and types but ONE will call out to you (and bless you for helping them out of their lonely situation) And I have often wondered "What is that----look---they give you?" One dog will just glance at you or glance past you and give it no further thought but another will stare. My buddy Leigh's dog Rocket has looked at me ---and then actually opened his eyes wider, taken a step closer and "LOOKED" into my eyes like some kind of doggie mind meld. "You will give me a biscuit---they're in the cupboard right over there!" Weird.....
And dogs---even a dog we have never seen before---will "know" that you are a "dog person" and, therefore, good for a "hello" or a pet or a biscuit or something. With the variety of Art Fairs I have been doing the past few summers, there have been numerous times when I have been the witness of this connection. In slower times at my booth, I will stand out front and watch the people and their dogs walking by. Many times, while the people are standing talking to friends or looking in my neighbors booths, a dog will suddenly "zero" in on me, his face will change and he will get this look on his face like "Hey! a dog person!" I have gone over and pet there heads or praised their fabulous fur or whatever seems to work. NEVER has there been a problem of "Don't touch me!" or "Stay away". They know---I'm one of them.
Maybe we have, in some way, opened our minds---or a section of our mind----to "dog energy." OK---that sounds a bit weird but how do we explain that connection that we have with dogs? Sure, they want to please us----or, at times and with some dogs, get us to do things for them. I would bet that every person out there with a dog has found themselves, after a bit of circling and whining and staring, in the car with the dog taking them for "a ride." And, come on, admit it, not a ride YOU thought you had to take.
As we all know, dogs do the most amazing things. To amuse us? or just to amuse themselves? or maybe a bit of both. They must know that when they make us laugh then the "energy" in the room is just plain "positive" and all will be well. As with Rocket, I can joke about it but there is definitely some kind of mental or whatever connection that goes on with us and them. My big Collie dog Jake was a big, beautiful tri-color with a big white ruff and a very regal bearing. Definitely with a mind of his own, he would get away with things that no other dog would, simply because of his appearance. He was known for going off for a "wander" every once and a while in Lake Tahoe where we lived. It got to where the Humane Society would see him walking along, pick him up, and, after the first time or so when I paid a fine and went to the station to pick him up, they would actually just bring him by and drop him off----usually with him sitting in the front SEAT! "Oh yeah, Thanks for the lift! See ya next time" he seemed to say as he jumped out and walked by me into the house. "Hey, what's been happenin'?" They called me once and told me he was at the station and could I come and get him. I drove down there and walked in. No one was up front so I started to walk down the hall to the kennels and office. Before I could even say anything, here comes Jake around the corner from the office, by himself, walking down the hallway to see who was coming in the front door. "I'll see who it is!" He got about halfway down the hall---saw it was me---and without missing a step, turned around and headed back to the office!! "OHOH---troubles here!!" We had a great "equals" kind of connection. Always having been shy and a bit of an introvert, he was my alter ego---outgoing and everyones friend. I had trained him well with all of the "sit, stop, lie down, stay, come here" commands and he was actually very quick and smart about all of them. I always train my dogs to STOP completely when I yell their names really loud. Jake would literally "freeze" half turning with one leg in the air like some kind of cartoon dog-----and then come over to me wagging his tail like that was the funnest thing to do. "Freeze me again, Dad!" But it has seemed not like programing but just lessons in "this is what works for me". Like an agreement of "this is how we communicate."
And speaking of communicating. Some research study a few years back said that the most intelligent breeds of dogs can understand up to 124 words. Now-----that's a lot of words. I always love these studies. What happens with the 125th word? Is that when your dog looks at you and cocks his head from side to side? "Artichoke?" "Let's see-----it has "choke" in it---I kinda remember some kind of thing over my neck to go for a walk-----"collar" goes on when we go for a walk----cool!! we're going for a walk" Or is it more like "no you can't have a SCOOP of ice cream"------wait-----SCOOP?---that sounds like POOP------well, ok, I was just hoping for some of that white stuff and I really don't think I have to but----why are these creatures constantly going on about POOP? They must really like it---their always picking it up!
As we all know, dogs have selective hearing. When they do not want to hear what you are saying, every ONE of those 124 words are gone. Huh?
I am always surprised by the "extra" a dog will give. They are all about giving. Mix in play and or your wish for them to do something and they are in it 100% Unfortunately, if it is some bad habit they get into like digging or tearing things up, you will get that same 100% but in the wrong direction. But get a dog to do something they love and you get this:
Take a good look at that photo----look at the extension on that dog!! This is from the Eugene, Oregon paper about a little 12 year old girl who entered her dog in a jumping contest. "He just likes to do it", she said. ..........I GUESS SO!!
One night in Lake Tahoe, I got a call from the Humane Society. "TOM, can you come and get Jake? We have him here." "No, you don't" I said. "Yes, we do" "He is right here in front of me", I said........."Then we have his brother here and we have had him for the past 3 days and he is due to be put down. He was found in the forest all alone." So-----I went down there. Knowing full well that they KNEW they did not have Jake and felt compelled to call me about this one. When I got there, I found out why. Here was an older version of Jake. Skinny and boney from too long on his own. With the saddest eyes...........He just looked at me. Not a sound. Just stood and looked. So........................"Luke" came home with me. How could anyone have abandoned this sweet old guy? In the forest, in the winter. Jake did not know what to make of this new addition but I put a blanket in front of the woodstove and sat down with him and allowed them to check each other out. Luke was very hesitant at first but he then became my "shadow". He would literally walk with his shoulder rubbing against my calf. And follow me from room to room. It was an interesting challenge to me to figure this guy out. He was an older dog that I had not trained. For all I knew, his previous owners spoke Spanish and he had no idea what I was saying. In the winter, sitting in the room reading a book or watching TV with the wood stove burning, Jake would curl up in his bed but Luke would sit down in front of me and just look at me. Not like he needed anything---just look. I would stop and look back and think "what are you trying to tell me?" One day, at a spring time party at a friend of my brother Dave's, I found out. It was a nice warm afternoon with the variety of party goers children playing with hoses and such in the back yard. Jake was doing his usual of wandering amongst the people there making friends. Luke was doing his usual-----standing near me, quietly watching. I was sitting in a chair in the shade, when two young boys came running up near me and, with toy guns in their hands, made "Bang, bang" shooting sounds with their mouths. To my right, just beyond the boys and slightly out of my sight, Luke fell over! I don't mean lie down, I mean FELL OVER! I got up and went over to look at him and he was laying there kinda squinting, looking around with his one visible eye. ??? "Get up, Luke" I said and he did and came over to me. The boys were standing there looking at me like "I didn't mean it Mister!" I told the one boy--"Do that again---with your gun" He aimed and went "BANG! BANG!" And Luke fell over like he had been shot! I had a circus dog!! He was suddenly SO happy with himself. He did that all afternoon and also rolled over and over and a few other little tricks (one kinda jump up and spin in the air to catch your tail that obviously was a bit difficult in his old age but was probably quite the trick when younger) Who knew? He was SO pleased with himself and when I got him home I thought "Is that what all of that sitting and staring was all about?" Had he been wondering how to get it across to me? Come on---say bang bang---have I got a surprise for YOU!!
My female Collie "Becky" was a very quite, very sweet old loving soul. Not much would get her going---she rarely ever barked or even made a sound---which made me REALLY pay attention if she did. Here's a good example of when a dog wants you to"pay attention": I always walked Becky "up" my little street here in Maui before going to bed. By this time, she had acquired her slow, matronly. older dog walk. There was a small incline up to the end of the street which then curved around to the left and continued on. I would walk her up to that turn and come back. When we turned, we would have a few of the sky through the palm and other trees lining the street. This night, as we were coming back, it was pitch dark with just a few faint stars but no moonlight. As we were heading down, I kinda glanced ahead and noticed that there was a slightly "blacker" area of sky between the two rows of trees. Not really giving it any attention, my mind kinda did a quick "checklist" kind of "Is that a big bird just glided across?" No---no bird that big. "Maybe a kite stuck in a tree" At night? I didn't hear it or notice it in the way up. "A plane, maybe?" Nope, no lights or noise. And just that quickly two things happened---this "blacker" shape moved further down the tree line in front of us and---Becky did this real, low threatening "urrrrrrrrrr!!!" and the hair went up on my neck-----as this "darkness" now with a front straight edge--moved off to the right. OK----- a wedge shape like a B1 Bomber---a cloud that in the darkness looked like it had a straight edge---a bit of light illusion played out with car lights and building shadows reflected up the street---whatever......I don't know what was happening there and really think I would have just explained it off......but Becky was the one that freaked me out. That "don't fuck with me" low growl got MY attention BIG TIME!
It is, of course, the cruelest twist of fate to only have these wonderful creatures in our lives for 14-16 years or so at the most. Such companionship, love and devotion should last so much longer. They must wonder why we remain so healthy and strong while they get weaker and slower. Maybe that is why "health care" dogs are SO very helpful and gentle around sick people. They know how much it helps and sense the pain and longing. In my saddest times, I have felt so much better to have my dog with me. And when our dog is ill or dies before it's time, with their passing we feel an emptiness that no human word or touch can replace. We end up with a big hole in our heart. And, we all understand that only another dog will help repair that hurt.
My dog Lani did just that after "Becky" died while I was on vacation in Italy. Though I had played music and traveled quite a bit for two years after Becky died---and told friends that I was not ready for another dog just yet----I one day found myself, for some reason, at a breeders house looking at her two remaining Australian Shepherd pups. I actually was telling her that I really was not interested (Then why are you here?) while I reached down and picked up this white little ball of fluff with the brightest blue eyes. Done.
Being the "dog person" I am , I had made the connection even before I knew what I was doing. Recently, I watched a buddy of mine with his new puppy out in the park. Jeff's dog of 13 years, Bear, had died 5 minutes before Jeff could get home from a Holiday trip. I had not spoken with him but knew how crushed he was and had heard that he had taken the "not for a while" stance. But here he was with a new pup. And watching this puppy so completely focused on him and with that mindless puppy rolling and chewing and playing energy and seeing the smile on Jeff's face told me---this had to be. Jeff was a "dog person" just like me and he really was not complete without his furry companion.
I realize that I just noted some great stories about dogs (which, is another important thing about being a "dog person"-----telling amusing stories about their dogs) but really have not explained about or gotten closer to whatever that bond or connection is. I know that it is a comfort and joy to me to have a dog by my side and in my life and really don't understand people that don't "get it". So---count me in when it comes to dog people. I'm one of them.
(which actually leads to today's "Simple Solution". I dated a lady in the time between Becky's passing and my getting Lani. I had actually met her through a friend that had house set with Becky and knew of my love of dogs. So, I was a bit surprised that she casually mentioned that she was glad I did not have a dog because I would probably pay more attention to it then to her. That was an odd one, but I do recall mentioning that there was really nothing to worry about as I did not have a dog. As with any relationship, as time went by and the "layers" were peeled back, I found that there was more than a dislike of dogs involved with this -----in fact, it was not about dogs at all but just a "pay attention to me" insecurity. And, it appeared to be something that there was really no way to "fix". So, when she finally, again, made a more definitive statement of "If you get a dog, I won't have anything to do with you", I found that a "simple solution to an everyday problem" had been presented to me. And that, as they say, was that!
TODAY'S "Simple Solution": Get the dog!
(2 weeks later, I had Lani----problem solved!!)
Today's quote:
"A dog is the only being that loves you more than you love yourself"
Well I'll be doggone! I am not the master of my own domain. Rocket is.
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