[Our next guest poster is married to Elizabeth, who converted him to dachshund love. Eric is Radish and Adley's dad (or, as we joke around here, Dadish and Dadley). He was not always a dachshund aficionado, but he did get an early start in hound dog love with Lucky, the beagle.]
How do you teach an obstinate boy that he's not the only one with needs and wants in the world?
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” ~ Emily Post
I saw Lucky, my beagle, in front of the refrigerator as I went to get a popsicle. She looked up at me. I said in a gentle voice, "Excuse me." She rustled her fanny up and lumbered over to the side, probably sad nothing came out of the fridge for her.
I knew she wanted to stay in front of the fridge. Who wouldn't? I knew she was comfortable. I hated seeing my brother or dad push her to the side with their feet or open the door as if she wasn't even there.
I wasn't always this considerate.
I didn't care when my Mom asked me to say thank you or excuse me to people, or even when my brother and sister got mad at me for licking all the chicken nuggets when they came out of the oven (like most dogs, I wanted all the food for myself, and immediately!).
When I saw those brown soulful eyes look up at me from in front of the fridge, it seemed awfully mean not to ask her to excuse me for disturbing her peace.
The manners virus struck me hard after we got Lucky.
When I saw her lying down across my twin sized bed spanning the entire width of the bed, I didn't have the heart to move her. She looked so comfortable, so I grabbed the chair from my mom's office and used that to prop up my feet and I scooted half of my body onto the edge of the bed. It wasn't the best night's sleep. I didn't know it then, but it was great training for my future red-eyes to Europe, Hawaii, and China.
After she lumbers over to the side so I can get my popsicle, she plops her fanny down and looks up at me again. I get down, hug her, and whisper into her ears "Thanks Lucky-pucks." I had finally learned my manners at the ripe old age of 8. She is much older now, but every time we meet, she reminds me of my manners lessons of the increasingly distant past.
It took my smelly, amazing 40 pound dog to teach me some semblance of manners. This is something even my mother could not do. So, please tell me, what lessons have your dogs taught you?
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7 comments:
My lesson learned? If the dog farts and runs away, you better get the HECK OUT OF THERE!!!!
Very sweet post!
Our German Shepherd taught me confidence and leadership. I'm by no means done learning yet, but I went from being something of a doormat to having a lot of assertive energy. I had to learn how to feel and act like a leader to keep him in check, and let me tell you, it was one hell of a challenge.
Now he's well behaved and knows his place, and I feel a lot better about owning my own place- at home and in the world.
I was never allowed a dog as a kid. Within 24 hours of bringing Calvin home, I knew exactly why.
A puppy is so close to a baby that it's not even funny. Placing those sort of demands on a kid is completely obscene and parents are unrealistic if they think that a child can truly handle it all on their own.
My dogs taught me to think less about myself, more about having a responsibility to others, and being selfless.
As for manners? Well, they taught me that if you're cute enough, you can get away with just about anything.
I don't think that counts.
I might be biased here, but I am so very glad that Lucky taught Eric manners. It has saved me so much time...kidding, of course.
very sweet post. I hope one day if/when we have children they will be able to learn from our dogs.
@ben - that's why we call our dogs "starter children" it's definitely good practice to have to care and love something so precious in your life. I was an admittedly selfish/ self centered person (but really in your early 20's who isn't?) and through the years, Macho and Savvy have taught me more about myself and even my relationship with J more than anything that I've encountered in my life.
Great post!
Mine have taught me that there is such a thing as unconditional love. Oh and patience. And kindness. They have so much more good qualities than people do and I think everyone can learn from their dogs. :)
Tofu has taught me so much that I don't even think I could list it all. I think the biggest thing is unconditional love. And not just from him but towards him too. Even when he's going through a "phase". How can you not love 15 lbs of cuteness?
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