David has a wistful look, a mischievous gaze to his lifted chin and wide eyes. He knows that a new year is coming. He was in his element over the Christmas holiday, helping open presents (whether he was invited or not), climbing on the top of furniture and hassling his favorite people whenever they stopped petting him for more than 15 seconds.
He’s ready for just about anything, except putting dog clothes like a jacket or snow boots on, or trimming his nails. Otherwise, he’s game. Especially if it involves a long mid-morning or late evening, after dinner nap.
Also just say the word, “walk” and you’ll get a look similar to this. But you’ll get the same for “peanut butter” and “dinner” and “coffee.” It’s really how you say the word. He’s bonkers for the word, “looney” but you have to say it right.
I wouldn’t call Dave “comforting” like I do Minnow the cat. However, he’s a different kind of companion. He’s winsome and ready for anything. He’s a Covid pup, a little boy that loves to sit on your lap in the backyard and launch himself off when ravens fly overhead or gulls do so up higher.
He’s not a fan of the neighborhood deer and frankly, neither am I. They’re intrusive and destructive and soon to be a danger to more than just themselves if they continue to multiply and consider the city yards their homes. They don’t come inside our fence though so it is mostly a stare down that David shares with the deer, unless he’s inside and sees them through the windows. In that case he sprints from the front of the house to the back of the house over and over.
This last Summer David found a new love for swimming. He loves nothing more than to launch himself off a dock and fly through the air and paddle for all he’s worth after landing back around and do it all over again. I’m not sure what is more satisfying, the swim or the rolling in the tall dry grass to dry off afterwards.
At night David has been known to bark at the reflection of our television in the dark windows of the living room. Especially if there are horses in the movie that we’re watching or an occasional nature documentary. Kangaroos are his favorite.
Dave is curious, he has to know what is the what and his breeding as a Jack Russell Terrier seems to demand instantaneous gratification of his curiosity once it is peaked. I guess that makes him a creative personality just like me.
As with all dogs I’ve known, there’s always a point where David rolls over and wants his tummy petted, but most often, and usually after dinner, he comes over to me and instead of climbing up on the couch, simply puts his nose into my hand. It is then when he’s the best.
If I stop petting him he whines, rumbles and sometimes even yips. I go on petting and time seems to either stand still or suspend itself. I forget whatever else is happening and then, I discover that I was wrong.
David is comforting, just like Minnow is, right between his velvet soft ears and under his throat. He just maintains his winsome look the whole time. These are good lessons to learn, the simple ones, from our dogs (and cats).
