I will admit that I am not the most
loved human in my dog's eyes. I am the second human, the one that
feeds, and scolds, but goes on big walks in any type of weather.
This makes me respectable, and at times exciting but Tess (dog)
doesn’t stare out a window looking for me to come home like she
does with Ellery. She doesn’t throw herself at my feet and paw me
to death when I jump out of the car. But this is okay with me. My
friend Claire said that Tess and I have a mutual understanding of one
another--- a respect that goes both ways.
My husband says that Tess and I are
exactly alike- we are both moody and prone to extreme highs and lows.
As long as we are both doing something exciting or moving around we
are very happy and easy going....but as soon as either of us stops
and its time for just being at home for a long period of time, we go
into some sort of funk. Either falling asleep or glaring eyes at
passersby....Waiting for the next event like meal time or a walk or
car ride.
However (and I am fully aware that I am
comparing my moods and self to a four legged animal)....Tess is more
of an extrovert where I am not. When we are walking down the street
she cannot help but throw herself at the nearest human even if they
show absolutely no sign of wanting to pat her. She thinks everyone
is her friend and I am pretty sure she would follow the next willing
participant home. Even though she feels intense guilt for disobeying
her humans and charging nose first into the persons crotch....she
can't help herself. She just wants to be loved! However give her a
dog walking by and she goes crazy....she wants nothing to do with the
dog for several minutes. Maybe we are more alike than I think....put
me in a room with animals and I am very happy...but put me in a room
with my own species and I have no idea how to act but awkward.
I will never understand people who
don't love dogs-- even though I am more of a cat person ( I like that
they choose when they want to hang out with you)....watching my
husband with Tess dog is one of the highlights of my day. Sometimes
I even find myself getting jealous watching how much fun they are
having together- running around the yard at full speeds kicking up
sticks and leaves and narrowly avoiding my garden.
We choose the morose puppy when we
picked Tess from the litter...and I am very glad we got her out of
all the other little whining black and brown lumps.
She is my fearless walking partner
through sun, snow, and rain... she is a protector at night when
Ellery is gone for an evening. She teaches me to be a bit more
social. And she motivates me to push myself a little bit more on
walks. And most of all she teaches me to be excited at the little
things in life--- like how great a large field is...I watch her
sneaking over to the field and throwing herself backwards onto the
cold ground...rolling back and forth in complete happiness.
