The Human Traits of a Dog

Most humans have had either a dog or a cat sometime in their life. Funny how our lives are so busy that we do not see all of the many characteristics that a dog really has. I received my first dog when I graduated High School. She was a little white poodle and I named her Gidget. I tried to spend most of my spare time with her when I came home from work, but then I got my first car and I was hardly home. Then three years later I got married and my parents did not want me to take my dog because she had become a part of the entire family and she was used to her surroundings. As the years went on my husband and I went to the Humane Society and got a Black Lab puppy. We named her Pebbles and took her camping on the weekends. At that time I was a stay at home wife and when I went back to work, Pebbles decided to destroy our small apartment. We brought her to my sister-in-laws as she had a nice house with a back yard. Pebbles loved the outdoors and this was the perfect environment for her. Many years later I moved to another state and lived in a small apartment that did not allow pets. I sure did miss not having a dog. Five years after that we purchased a villa where I could not have a pet again. We purchased a Bichon and named him Titus. He was a wonderful little guy. He would let you into the house, but you could not leave. My company became captive. At 9 years old he had a brain tumor and had surgery after surgery. In the meantime, we purchased a small Maltese named Taffy. She was only 3 lbs 6 ozs and a real doll. She layed along side Titus and fell asleep. By then Titus was going blind. A few weeks after Titus had to be put down. It was such a traumatic time for everyone. And it seemed like we thought we should get another Maltese so Taffy would have company while we worked. So we went out and purchased another Maltese and named him Codi. He was only 2 lbs 8 ozs and boy was he tiny. He was so small that we had to keep him in a playpen so that Taffy could not bite him. Imagine that.... she was only 3 lbs and yet too big to be left alone with him. They became best friends. Running aroung the house with squeek toys in their mouths. One would have the toy and tease the other one and then they would chase each other. It was darling. But all in all, while you have to work a full time job, you cannot actually spend every moment with your pets to see what remarkable characters they truly are. When Codi was 8 he was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Several months later, he had a heart attack. It was so awful. Everyone was totally sad. Even Taffy. The next step was to now spend as much time with Taffy as possible. At that time they started to sell Pet Strollers. I purchased one and started to take Taffy everywhere. It was great theraphy for us both. As the months went on it was a given to take Taffy out in her stroller. Now over 4 years has past and Taffy was diagnosed with a heart murmur. She had an echo cardiogram and the Vet told us to keep close watch over her. About 6 months after that test, Taffy had two episodes and was rushed to an Emergency center. She now takes a few different medications and they have helped. The past several months I have been working from home. I have to give Taffy different meds 6 times a day and space them apart. This has totally given me the opportunity to spend all day, every day with Taffy. Wow....have I discovered things that I never knew before. This little girl is like a human in so many ways. I am totally amazed on how God has created these tiny little creatures to steal our hearts. And how smart they truly are. Taffy actually talks to me and lets me know her every need. She taps her water bowl when it is empty and she barks at me when she knows it is time for her medication. I set my alarm during the day to remind me when it is time for her medications. We even had to make an excel spreadsheet to monitor her pills. Sometimes I will be on the telephone and forget that the alarm went off.... that is when Taffy will come right to me and bark. She has actually realized that every time the alarm goes off, it is time to give her a treat. I put her pill in a pill pocket and tell her it's a treat so that she will take it. Taffy is also paper trained and will let me know when she needs new paper. If she is sitting on the couch, she will tap my arm to let me know she wants to get off the couch. We usually eat dinner at a specific time every night, but there is the occassional time when we will eat later. Taffy will sit in the kitchen and bark or give a light sound like she is talking, to let me know that it is dinner time. I have to keep telling her that we will be eating later that day. After several times of telling her that, she will walk away and then lay close by and stare at me. She is so in tuned to everything. Being home with her has made me realize how totally smart God made these little beings. She knows my every move. She knows that we go to the post office almost every day at 12 PM and she will sit by the door and wait. If it is a day that I am not going out, she will start to give me that low growl and then bark, as if to say, come on' we are supposed to be going out. And before we go out I always tell her to go on the paper first, and she does. Now all I have to do it pick up my keys and she will run to the paper first. It is totally funny to actually watch this. She has a soft sided crate that she sits in when we go out and she knows to go right inside and wait for me to start the engine. She goes to the park with me for lunch and she taps me to give her something to eat. If you ignore her, she will start talking with a low growling sound. And then it gets louder. She has been to several hotels that allow pets and she steals the show. Everyone stops by to see her in her little stroller. She lets them pet her and you can tell she loves when they talk with her. I can always tell when a little child is close by because Taffy will start to wag her tail. She loves little children. And it is so cute to see a mother walk by with her child in a stroller as they are now level with Taffy and both Taffy and the child are tickled to see each other in their strollers. When I get home with Taffy I tell her to go get a drink and she will go over to her bowl and take a drink. At night I tell her it is time for bed and she runs right into her little bed. She knows everything I tell her no matter what it is. She knows by my actions, by my words and just by being so alert to everything. Taffy needs 24/7 care and she has taught me so much by being so close with her all the time. She is just like a littler person with fur. She even gives a full smile with her little teeth showing when she is very happy. I have never seen a dog do that before. I am truly blessed to be able to take care of this little girl. She is the love of my life. Do you remember the feeling you got deep down in your stomach on the night before Christmas when you knew Santa was coming and you would get presents the next day??? That is the feeling I get every day being around Taffy. When I look at her, when I hold her and when I realize that she is such a part of me. My dad always said that Dog spelled backwards is God. And I beleive that is the reason why Dog's give us that unconditional love that only they can give. No human can ever give the love that a dog will give. A dog will love you no matter what you look like, whether you took a shower, brushed your teeth, or combed your hair. When you take out the garbage or go to get the mail, a dog will get so excited like they haven't seen you for years. And a dog's love never changes over the years. It only gets stronger. So for all of you out there that have pets, spend some quality time with them. Watch their every move, even if for just one day..... you will be amazed at what you will find out. You will see the purest kind of love. Unconditional love for free. God bless you.