The Aborigines have a saying “Dogs Make us Human” I see it so many times in my life and in the lives of others. Many scientists have now proposed new theories that not only did we domesticate wolves into dogs, but wolves Domesticated early man into the humans that we are today. Of course I am not here to argue creation vs evolution, but I find it fascinating that science believes we learned these specific behaviors from wolves:  Learning to hunt in groups instead of alone making it possible to hunt large game instead of small game, complex social structures, loyal same-sex and non-kin relationships, and we learned to be territorial. I don’t know how much of that may be true, but I can say Dogs made me who I am today and they are shaping my children everyday as well. I agree with the Aborigines, that Dogs make us Human, without them we are different indeed. Dogs offer us so much more than Love and companionship, but even those are enough to justify living with dogs.

You know I have given a lot of thought the last few years about how dogs along the way have shaped me into what I am. I have realized that no matter what, boys just can’t grow up into men without good dogs to point them along the way. Naturally I believe Epagneul Bretons are those good dogs! They love us unconditionally, and every boy exploits that, asking dogs to do things they probably shouldn’t, to go places they shouldn’t go and even to take the blame and wrath of mom and dad when we have done something wrong. That unconditional love I think teaches us about forgiveness. Not one of my dogs ever held a grudge for something stupid I asked them to do, and most of the time they would love me enough to do the stupid thing and let me learn a tough lesson. I remember “Teddy” a purebred “Heinz 57” (I was sure that was a breed until much later in life, my parents had convinced me so!) I had no idea how to train a dog, I just knew I loved him, and we did everything together. He learned to pull me on skates or sleds and stop when I asked him to, he would sit and shake, and sometimes he would stay until I turned my back 🙂 We just worked things out, it is a magic that happens between a boy and his dog. Teddy went through two broken legs and surgeries to boot, he survived a patio roof collapse in a storm, he lived on love. Heaven knows I wasn’t the best at feeding and cleaning. He taught me to swim and chase sticks and run through fields. There were many good dogs in my life like Teddy. The point is I am what I am for good or bad in large because of the dogs along the way. A boy just isn’t a boy without a dog. I had a sad call today from someone whose boy had just lost his dog yesterday and his parents knew what it meant to that little boy. I reflected with sadness on those times I felt the same pains.

I sat and thought a long time about all of this today and I was so filled with gratitude that we get to share our lives with such special dogs. So here is a tribute to all those dogs along the way that shaped us into what we are, it must be similar for girls, as my daughter loves the dogs every bit as much as as my boys, but where the red fern grows helps us to cement it into our boyhood minds. I hope this sentimental moment finds all of you well and enjoying your lives with these special friends, I hope you too are learning from them and slowly learning to love and forgive like them. I hope you follow the dogs lead and shamelessly ask for what you want and need instead of beating around the bush with hidden agendas and I hope you enjoy a nap in the soft grass under the warm sun. Chase things in life you want with enthusiasm, and hang on to what you catch with all your might until it is time to let go. Smile for no reason, and wake up knowing each day is just your favorite thing. Try new things and be loyal to your friends, and fiercely defend your loved ones. Enjoy mud and swimming, and chewing on your favorite treat. Finally although Cliché, may we be the people our dogs think we are. Life is too short not to share it with a friend. Thank you all for sharing yours with us.