Calm, confident

 The best part about searching for a puppy is how much we are learning about dogs. I will admit that we have had many dogs, but never actually new much about them. With excess amounts of time and energy, we have begun watching The Dog Whisperer. Several concepts have surprised me.  Dogs have been bred, by humans, to do certain jobs. And if they are not allowed to express the pre-determined genetic job, they become unhappy, nervous, maybe vicious.  That explains a lot. The second thing I have learned about dogs, is how poorly most of us manage our dogs. We get excited to meet a puppy, when we need to be calm and confident. No wonder there are so many excited, bite-y, jumpy puppies, we reward the wrong behavior.  So simple. 

Just watching the jumping, lunging, biting puppies on TV has forced me to reconsider my "therapy dog" idea. 

As surgery is closing in on me, I have also gotten lots more serious about the reality of having my abdominal muscles cut in two.  The muscles that basically hold me together, allow me to do everything, will be out of commission.  That is a sobering thought. As Jess introduced me to the reality of abdominal surgery,  my vail of naivety began to lift.  It is hard to imagine electively going from nearly perfectly fine, to absolutely eviscerated. Who would do that?  

Hence, dog walking is being put on hold.  While I focus on gathering the necessary tools to help me get out of bed and go to the bathroom.  Call it denial. 

However, I will definitely continue watching the Dog Whisperer. in hopes that someday soon, I will get that puppy and bring calm and confidence into our lives.  


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