I am a terrible mind reader. I have tried to get better, but I’m a total failure. The new dogs living in my house have confirmed my utter lack of understanding. I have no idea how to make them happy. At random times, for unknown reasons the seem to indicate a general dissatisfaction for my behavior. There peanut sized reasoning centers have concluded that I am the problem.
I’m either too slow and doing what they want or too fast at doing what I want. They jump at the door before its opened and pull on the leash to go a different direction. In the middle of the night they wake me up to pick a bone with me. I ask them to play catch with me and they ignore the offered item while at other times I’m busy and they bring me stuff they have found.
If we are inside they stand by the door to go outside. If we go outside they sit by the door to go inside. I want to pet them, they want to lick me. I want to sit down and rest, they want to go outside and drag me around the street.
We were driving home from Waco last Saturday and saw several beautiful fields of bluebonnets. Since we don’t have kids to take pictures of the dog would suffice. Usually, the dog wants out of her crate when we are in the car, but last week she couldn’t be pleased. It took forever to get a picture of her being happy in the flowers.
I try to tell them how good they have it, to stop complaining so much, but they are not convinced.
About midway through last week I realized I’m the one being trained by these dogs and not the other way around and I’m have a great time. As crazy as my life is, it has been a total new diversion and lots of fun. The dogs know just how to get me to give them food,. They have me trained to open and close the door for them. They have me cleaning up messes that I swore off when the boys got out of diapers.
None of that is a complaint, it’s a celebration. I’ve never had a good dog experience. I grew up with a dog fiercely loyal to my mother and aloof from me. The neighbors German Shepherd almost bit my fingers off when I was about three. When we came to Athens we had a dog so hyperactive that she made going into our backyard feeling like standing on the track of the Indy 500. Now, I’m having a great time with my dogs. Life can be seen two ways:
One day an old man was rocking on his porch when a moving van drove up. The driver asked, “What kind of people live in this town?”
“Well,” the old man replied, “What kind of people live where you came from?” The driver responded, “They were the meanest, most unfriendly people you’ve ever heard of!” The old man sighed, “Drive on, because the same kind of people live here.”
The next day another moving van drove by and the driver asked the same question, “What kind of people live in this town?” “Well,” the old man asked, “What kind of people live where you came from?” The driver responded, “They were the kindest, friendliest people you’ve ever seen!” The old man smiled, “You’ll love it here, because the same kind of people live here too!”
Stop complaining and enjoy the flowers,