Today as I was sitting at my computer focused on what I was creating, something blond and short brushed against my knee making me jump. It was the sweetest little pup owned by an office mate. She sat, and patiently waited for attention with big beautiful brown eyes. There is something magical about dogs, especially the kind, quiet ones that seem to calm you at first sight, she makes the office a better place to be.
Looking back, I realized that I have always gravitated to pups instead of seeking out the humans that own the pups. Living in a neighborhood in Georgia, we would go for a walk each afternoon and we would stop and say hello to all the pups in the neighborhood. We knew each name and each pup knew who we were, and they were usually waiting to greet us. We did not however, have a clue as to the owner’s names nor did we ever seek to learn them.
In Germany, my pup and I walked blocks each morning to take the train from the Oberstrasse to Eberstadt. German ladies would wait for us on their front steps with pieces of salami for my rotti in the morning and pieces of cheese in the afternoon. People on the strauss would ask to pet the pup and were always happy while enjoying Rollie’s silliness. At work, my employer created a safe space for Rollie with a little gated area and a special bed for napping. Employees took turns taking him for walks every few hours of the day and there was no volunteer shortage.
My German shepherd, Lasco, was a pup I selected from a kennel in Austria after being on a waiting list for several years. The pup I chose was lighthearted, loving, kind, funny, bright eyed and mischievous. He stood out from his littermates because he had big, upright ears that moved as you spoke like radar dishes. Lasco also liked to climb, he was sitting up high on a table like a self appointed guard. We were required to leave him at the kennel until he was 3 months old. At 3 months when we went to pick him up, he was quiet, timid, overly submissive and scared of people. The tattoo on his ear confirmed it was the same pup. We witnessed the caretaker using a piece of garden hose to hit the outdoor kennels of the older dogs to make them quiet and I believe she struck the pups with it to keep them still and under control. What she really did was injure his spirit. It took a good month for him to regain his composure and he went from shy to difficult. He demanded attention, learned skills but refused to use them. He would learn to sit, down, long down, etc. with ease but when tested would lay down and refuse to stand. He was stubborn. One day I left the little butt in my flat to go pay my rent. I was gone a whole 30 minutes and I had blocked him in the hallway and had left the radio on for comfort. This little turd ripped up anything within reach, chewed cabinet knobs and pooped in the hall. Somehow, he managed to throw his poop on the walls, ceiling and doors and he screamed the entire time I was gone. Once I entered, he sat quietly very pleased with himself.
Lasco loved watching tv and loved laying on my bed. He loved sleeping next to me and loved showing off. After getting kicked out of politzi training, failing doggy school, and finally frustrating me to the point of quitting, he settled down and became a wonderful playmate. This baby Schaefer hound as the German ladies called him, was also the focus of attention on mornings and afternoons, he matured quickly to get the most attention possible. It was a shift in attention, attitude, and the understanding that if he were a good boy, more people would give him the attention, love and treats he wanted. He was a fabulous pup who died at age 4 of a rare rectal cancer after moving to North Carolina.
Early mornings my current dog, Cruiser, wakes me minutes before my alarm, escorts me to the coffee maker and waits for the button to be pushed, then waits while I put on my sneakers to go out. He escorts me to the barn to feed the cat, then pushes me towards the chickens. Then it is back into the house and breakfast. He feels his job is to keep me on schedule and if I am a few minutes late leaving, he stands by the door and lets me know it is time to go.
When I get home the first thing, I do is greet my current pup who is usually waiting for me with a wiggly butt and a toy ready to thank me for coming home. The simple pleasure of his greeting is difficult to relay, no matter how bad or good the day, he makes it better. He listens to my complaints, watches my wardrobe trials, tastes my cooking, and supervises my tv watching. He also makes sure that when we go for walks, he is out front ensuring the way is safe and that I stay on the trail.
I can’t remember a lengthy time when I went without a pup, just short timespans inbetween puppies. This sweet little pup, Zoe, is a reminder of how much a dog influences how you feel and how much a dog gives. One must wonder if they know what they are and what they are doing. This little girl went from office to office and in turn almost every coworker stopped and praised Zoe, offering pats, pets, and treats while talking in that silly voice everyone uses when the speak to animals they enjoy. Zoe brought softness, happiness and a light with her into each office she visited.
As I listen to a loud coworker who doesn’t understand that her speaker is offensive to the entire building talk about some issue without closing her door, I can’t help but compare the two. If humans were as calming and considerate as a well-trained dog, would we as a human race be better off?
I’ve seen happy dogs, rescued abused dogs, walked dogs that needed training help, owned puppies that were a handful and have met aggressive dogs that were a product of neglectful humans. I’ve seen angry humans, sweet humans, and neglectful humans that have little respect for those around them, the two classes are comparable. I believe that pups and babies are both born inherently good filled with possibility and wonder. The common contaminate is human interaction. A poor owner or neglectful parent can change that wonder into despair and change the outcome of those possibilities creating an aggressive pup or a troubled person.
What most pet owners and child parents fail to understand is that when I see your pup or child, I see you and I see what you have or have not done to give them the best shot at a great life.
On social today the complainers and finger pointers were out critiquing those who are struggling to afford life during a time when inflation and conflict has increased prices on everything. Some said they should get better jobs, learn to eat less, skip meals, sleep less, and work more in comment to some who indicated they were barely getting by. Have humans become so self-centered that they can’t encourage a stranger or offer something positive to encourage someone instead of doing more to create stress and despair? It doesn’t take much to be kind and positive words inflict no pain on the giver.
So my question is how do we entice more people to behave like pups?
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