I love others. I love dogs, I love people, I love kids, heck, I even love cats. EVERYONE! I haven’t met a face (or tail) that I didn’t want to know better. Mom took note of this very early on. There’s this process, or maybe a better word would be a display, to how I attempt to greet a new friend. I sort of arch my back, wag my tail profusely, my ears fall flat to my head to the extent that they are lost in a pile of fluff, and sometimes, just sometimes, I shout in excitement. This is my reaction to anyone and mostly everyone, consistently. Whether they want to be my friend or not; I want to be theirs.
Now that I am all healed up from surgery, I am allowed to go on walks around the neighborhood to meet new friends. Mom said daycare was a good idea too. This is mostly because everyone at home works and schools during the day. Even though Scrappy and Lola are home, it doesn’t mean they want to be “pestered” by me. Mom kept telling me I was going to meet a whole slew of new friends both the furry and peoply type when I went to daycare. How exciting! She said I had to take a test. She also said she knew I’d do well, she just knew it.
Then came testing day…
Mom and I were locked in a room with a window. Mom filled out some papers, then lifted me to see what was on the other side of the window. There were all sorts of big dogs running after balls, lying in front of fans, and tugging at each other. This is daycare?!? Why don’t they just call it “Lie Down and Die Because All Your Dreams Are Coming True”? A woman walked in, they talked for a long time (they clearly knew each other). Then the woman grabbed my leash and escorted me through another door. I was hesitant. I put on the breaks and mom tucked my fluffy tail under my body and gave me a push. The lady picked me up and the door closed. Where was I heading? I didn’t like it. The lady carried me the entire way, but once she put me down, I was in a new room with a menagerie of dogs and puppies. They were my size and there were also human friends – two of them.
HOLY COW!!! I was overjoyed! I checked out every dog in the place. Some barked a lot, some were sleeping, some were playing, and a person girl was carrying one. I introduced myself to everyone with a sniff to the face or rear, in my usual “how you doin” posture. I met some interesting individuals. One guy snapped at me, Meany! One guy sniffed me back, another watched me, and then….
I found her. I think she might be my new best friend. Her name is Charlie. She is also five months old, she is black and white all over, and a pittie mix. The only sad part about that is that if she gets too big or too rough she will be sent to the big dog room and we won’t be able to be buddies anymore. Too sad to think about, back to today.
I sniffed her, she sniffed me back, I pranced, she followed, I stopped, she stopped. When Charlie took a break to scratch an itch, I helped her, she didn’t mind the help. This is going to be the beginning of something wonderful. I can feel it!
I gave everyone a chance today. Every. Single. Dog. They were all given the same opportunity to accept or decline my friendship. I certainly wasn’t well received by everyone, remember the guy I told you about? Meany? I learned quite a few lessons today.
- Not everyone will like you. That’s OK. I am going to repeat this simply because it needs to be understood. Not everyone will like you and that’s OK! I am authentically me and that might not be everyone’s strip of rawhide. This guy in class not being my friend didn’t affect the fact that I had a great experience. It also didn’t affect the fact that I still made a friend. He didn’t like me, so what?!?
- You have to give everyone and I mean everyone a chance. If I stopped at Meany, I wouldn’t have met Charlie or anyone else for that matter.
- Once someone shows you who they are, believe them. Meany is clearly a good guy, he passed the same temperament test I did. There was something about me that he just didn’t like. His nip was a warning; if there is something I know, it’s you only get so many warnings before the explosion. So I believed him. I believed that he would be aggressive, he told me, and I listened. He showed me exactly who he was and where I stood with him. Listen to that warning, or red flag, or whatever you call it.
Today, well, it wasn’t a bust. I walked away with a new place to play, a few new friends, some freedom from home, and some pretty incredible lessons. Oh, and after daycare, the naps are amazing. Who could ask for more?!? I can’t wait to go back!