Speaking of Dogs Running Free

When Pepper was in heat and drawing all the local dogs to the yard, one dog in particular stood out for me.  Of questionable heritage, he looked like a Finnish Spitz with a short coat.  A neutered male, he posed no threat where Pepper was concerned and did not join the melee of dogs who postured and scrapped in the driveway.  Instead he would sit off to the side and watch the goings on.

At first, he would not allow me to come near.  Any attempt on my part immediately sent him scurrying further out of reach, I couldn't even show interest without causing him worry.  I named him 'Friend'.  If I could get within range I would quietly say, "Hello Friend" but I would not look at him, my body would always be turned away.

Pepper's heat came and went and her pregnancy produced five pups.  No longer did neighborhood dogs hang out in the driveway with the exception of one.  Friend.  He still hung back but we had conversations now.  Well, okay, I was doing the actual talking but he was giving me his rapt attention and often a smile would gather in the corners of his eyes.  Finally, finally, one day he let me touch him.  I had been accepted and the bond was made.

Friend remained a fixture in our yard.  My mother was the only other family member he would have anything to do with, he ignored my two sisters who generally ignored him right back and my dad, for all intents and purposes where Friend was concerned, was just a vehicle that pulled in and out of the garage.

One day dad came home, said he had been in the neighboring town approximately five miles away and had seen Friend trotting along in his lone wolf way.  He said "Friend looked up as I passed and looked at me.  Do you know, when I pulled into the driveway just now, Friend was already here?  He knew it was my car and he took a direct route that got him here faster than I could!"

Dogs are special.

Dogs are great.

"Hello Friend."