It’s been six months since Sandy, our seven-year-old yellow Labrador, arrived in our lives. We continue to be smitten by this sweet, gentle and lovable dog.
This is what we’ve learned about our new family addition. She’s not very exuberant or overactive. She’s not very doggish, with little or no desire to fetch and scant appetite for barking. She reluctantly goes on walks in our Easton neighborhood. She had been a puppy machine who seemingly exercised very little.
What is wonderful, however, about the strolls around South Easton, is the attention she draws and savors. Few people who meet her can resist in patting her and commenting about her passive personality.
How could we be so lucky to have Sandy in our lives?
She seems dedicated only to pleasing us and being loved. As our world devolves into chaos and strife—and strident discourse—Sandy is oblivious. Of course, she is; she’s just a dog.
As I pet, feed and walk her, I sometimes feel sheltered, ever so briefly, from worldly concerns. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? How can a seven-year-old Labrador Retriever sway your senses and dim your awareness of our topsy-turvy world?
Very easily and effortlessly.
In an ad in the Sunday Star, Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home announced the upcoming arrival newest member of its corporate family, a female Aussie Doodle, who will be trained as a “grief therapy dog…research has widely shown that the touch of a dog can have an effect on our emotions and well-being.” The ad seeks public input in naming “this sweet girl.”
In an article I found online in Psychology Today, the writer states,” Dogs are extraordinarily attentive and have an uncanny ability to predict what their owners will do, whether getting the dog a meal or preparing to go on a walk…dogs also seem attuned to the emotional state of their masters and express contrition when the owner is annoyed, for example. Otherwise, the capacity to express affection—unconditionally—makes the dog a valued ‘” family member.”’
From my observation, dogs provide a civilizing influence on humans. Though accustomed to caring for, and about our family members, we stretch, but not too much, to impose our same protective and compassionate natures on our four-legged friends. As noted above, we consider dogs part of the family—perhaps loving them with far less complexity than we do our spouses, children, siblings, in-laws and grandchildren.
Not surprisingly, human nature changes around a dog. In recent months, as workmen have come into our house for hours or even days, I’ve been amazed how quickly they devolve into baby talk when finding Sandy in their paths. And she seems to expect that behavior, trusting people to treat her well.
I wasn’t surprised to read the funeral home ad. For years, I’ve known about dogs providing comfort to individuals in nursing homes and hospices. Dogs allow humans to focus on something other than themselves. You can forget your physical and emotional —and maybe your overwhelming grief and loneliness.
When thinking about writing this column, I wondered, in a jestful, wistful way, whether dogs might help alter the current political process. If the members of the U.S. Congress could bring their pets into the legislative chambers during a contentious debate, would the dogs prompt their masters to treat each better and more humanely? Would the outcome be different?
As I wrote six months ago when we acquired Sandy, I’m new to the world of animal adoration. I sometimes question my irrational response to this animal. She’s just a dog, for God’s sake.
But she’s more. She’s a vehicle for goodness. She compels feelings of warmth and caring. She requires relatively little effort; feeding and walking her are pleasurable.
As the Psychology Today writer said, a dog is a treasured family member. It’s sometimes difficult to explain but easy to understand.
Sandy is sitting by my feet as I write this column. I like the feeling of having her in my life. How does she know?
Because she is a dog.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
Suellen Knight says
Howard, As fellow dog lovers we read your heartfelt piece as if we were all holding hands. This very evening as my wife types this note I’m sitting next to our two year old black lab. and appreciating her heartbeat and her loyalty.
You summed it all up so beautifully, it is like we are all united in our love for these marvelous creatures.
Thank you, Tom and Suellen Knight
Louise Hayman says
Oh, Howard! You nailed it. People without dogs are living incomplete lives. Louise