dogs
Columnist bites back
27/05/2008 23:05 Filed in: EssentialMum | general
A Sunday paper columnist recently took on all the city dog owners and their 'surrogate children' (her description). She copped a backlash.
We're dog people, and so our dogs preceded Happy Camper's arrival. It helped that when she came to live with us she was not scared of furry four legged creatures, and we are pleased that Happy Camper's life now encompasses animals. The dogs have played quite a role in the process of her settling into the family, and they continue to help Happy Camper - to laugh, to love, to play, and to care.
Here’s why we have two of the hounds:
For the articles that set it all off, click here.
Posted by EssentialMum
We're dog people, and so our dogs preceded Happy Camper's arrival. It helped that when she came to live with us she was not scared of furry four legged creatures, and we are pleased that Happy Camper's life now encompasses animals. The dogs have played quite a role in the process of her settling into the family, and they continue to help Happy Camper - to laugh, to love, to play, and to care.
Here’s why we have two of the hounds:
- They are trainable. Ours don’t bite, chase children, bark endlessly, or poop or pee where they are not meant to. They also know who is the boss (and that would be EssentialMum).
- They are great companions for Happy Camper. She has learned how to respect another creature, how to be gentle, how to be superior and wield that superiority gently, how to nurture and care for another living creature, how to take responsibility.
- One huge gentle beastie was Happy Camper’s new best friend when she came to live with us. The dog was patient, gentle, loving and fascinated with Happy Camper. She took almost any play Happy Camper dished out (under our supervision), and showed Happy Camper what unconditional love looks like. We’ve done it too of course but the dog had it nailed.
- Happy Camper enjoys the wonderful feeling of a dog’s coat, a dog’s silky ears between her fingers. She delights in a doggy play bow and a game, tug of war with a toy, and a cuddle with a furry beast. She’s quick to blame a four legged fiend when any unpleasant smell surfaces.
- We have conversations about how puppies come to live in other homes, away from their mums. For us any analogy for Happy Camper that mirrors her circumstances and opens up the conversation in a casual way is really useful. Happy Camper is also starting to learn that dogs don't live as long as we do.
- Our dogs get us out in the fresh air. We walk, we ride our scooter, around the suburb, to the local park, to visit grandparents. We watch the dogs sniff every tree, we take them to off leash areas and watch them play, and we run and kick a ball and fall over in a heap with them. We don't fight for space - we all share it.
For the articles that set it all off, click here.
Posted by EssentialMum
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