STUFF I TELL MY DOG

I talk to my dog all the time – in private and in public.

He is an excellent listener although easily distracted by squirrels, trucks and women – he is quite the Casanova.

I talk to him a lot before going to bed at night in the darkness when all of the sad / scary moments of my life past and present tend to creep up on me.

I tell him my fears – of being alone forever – of my chronic illness getting worse – of losing my last living parent.

I repeat the story of how we met at the shelter where I was volunteering. I arrived to walk as many dogs as possible – giving them a break from noise and discomfort. There you were being chased in circles and humped by a larger dog – all of your 12 lbs beneath a hefty 20+. I placed the other dog behind the reception desk and I picked you up and carried you around until you calmed down.

From that moment on you followed me throughout my shift. If my back was to you - you tugged at my shirt with your teeth and if I sat down you were in my lap within seconds. 

You were clearly telling me that I was not to leave the shelter without you. So I decided to foster you for the weekend as I had done with other dogs.

You turned out to be a “keeper” and a wonderful, warm gift. I saved you and you saved me.

I also talk to him about the other dogs I have had in my life and how much I miss them and how difficult it was to say goodbye.

 I think of each and every one of my dogs every day. I remember all of the wonderful walks, talks, adventures and all the love we shared in their way too short lifetimes.

Sometimes I tell him something funny or disturbing that happened in a given day and I talk to him about the upcoming weekend and all that we are going to do together.

I always tell him if a holiday is coming up that will lengthen our weekend and time together.

I ask him if he has friends over while I am at work or if he heads out and goes shopping for kongs and rawhide. 

There’s this magical moment that often occurs when I am talking to him. He looks me right in the eye as if he understands everything and he is so thankful for that moment we are sharing together.

"Whisky - you are my Saturday night, my New Year’s Eve, my weekend, my co-pilot – you are my everything and walking through life without you would be like walking through life without my soul".

What stuff do you tell your dog?