For the Love of Dogs
Dogs are family members. At least they always have been for me. If you’ve been fortunate to have a puppy, you know how they quickly become our babies. I recall a few distinct things. The first one is the unforgettable stench of a puppy’s breath. Especially as it surrounds your nose, while their tongue slobbers spit across your face. The other is the sharp little teeth chewing everything in sight. I have a jar with a few they didn’t swallow. Surprisingly the dog tooth fairy never came to claim them. I’ve had the pleasure of a dog for a companion since I was ten years old. In fact, I love all animals but dogs are my favorite because of their unconditional love.
A Dog’s Emotions
It may be a debatable topic whether they have emotions like humans but I believe they do. The ranges of their emotions are childlike. When you come home, excitement abounds. The tail will wag so hard their butt will move from side to side making it impossible for them to run to you in a straight line. Fear will make them cower whether it’s for the impending storm or shyness around new people. Their affection and love are contagious. Who can resist a dog’s head in your lap after a long day? Or the trained dog who will put his lips to yours when asked for a kiss?
Sometimes it is difficult for us to understand how they feel since they can’t talk but their bark will give a hint. My Charlie will bark aggressively to show his dominance to any deer wandering through our yard. He has a different tone when he wants your attention for a lost ball under the furniture. One of the most comical is when he barks while sticking his head in the crease of the couch. It’s his way of calming down after he wildly bounced around in an extreme wound up state.
My Second Dog
It’s sad to talk about my first, Ladybird, as she didn’t live very long. Charmin arrived via my best friend for my birthday. The black lab, golden retriever and cocker spaniel mix got her name from a favorite t-shirt I used to wear. There was a cartoon character of a man and a talk bubble with the words inside “Please Don’t Squeeze the Charmin.” In the ’70s, Mr. Whipple’s commercials were apparently popular enough to make it into the clothing industry.
My excitement with the new puppy led me to buy a book so I could learn how to care for her. One of the sections described how to train your dog. I followed the directions and practiced with her almost every day. Before too long, she learned the basic commands. I’d walk around the yard having her sit, come and stay. Adding others as she mastered the first ones like how to shake, lie down and rollover. Whenever I was outside, she was with me. One day, when I came home from school the day hadn’t gone too well and I began to cry. Charmin sat next to me on the porch and began licking my face to rid the tears. I knew it was her way of letting me know she didn’t want me to cry. Of course, I squeezed her as hard as I could to show her how much I loved her too. It was difficult not to. I had to squeeze the Charmin.
I’d love to hear the story of how you named your dog.
My Dog Charmin 1977
My Dog Ladybird, 1976