11 Promises to a New Puppy (Whom I Haven't Met Yet)

Samurai, when he was just a pup

Before you were even born, I made promises.

A promise that we would be a good match for each other.

I want you to be happy in the world we will create together.

A promise to let you be a puppy as long as you need to be.

I want you to enjoy those blissful months of puppyhood.

I want you to wander and explore,

your eyes filled with wonder.

A promise that I will keep you safe

but give you room to grow.

This will be hard. Sometimes I'll question myself.

And you will test your limits.

 But together, we'll move forward

on an important journey toward trust.

A promise to make careful choices about nutrition.

Caring for Samurai and our old Shaunie

taught me lessons about how important it will be 

to feed you well.

I will continue to study 

and try my best to make good choices

that will help you grow strong,

run healthy

and live long.

A promise to make good choices for your training.

Kid, I'm not perfect.

You'll find that out.

Probably, you'll laugh 

and have me scratching my head

at your endless mysteries and jokes.

But I will try.

A promise to seek out the best advice I can on your behalf.

I will think. Then plan. Then do.

I've been around the block long enough

to take a pass on some of the myths

that make sense to people

but not to dogs.

I'll try hard to find paths

that bring us joy

as well as lead us to our success.

A promise to keep you fit for the efforts I ask of you.

You can only perform well what you are physically able to do.

I will try to understand you

and find ways to help you be strong.

I promise not to push you beyond

what you can happily do.

What I will adore more than any ribbon, win or title

will be your smile.

What I will not tolerate

or permit for myself

is losing that happiness.

A promise of medical care when you need it.

A soft, warm bed for you to sleep in.

A family that will love you.

Arms that will always be open to you.

A promise that when the time comes, I will let you go.

It will break my heart almost more than I will be able to bear.

But you will be too good of a dog

for me to let you suffer.

Know this:

When you are gone, 

you will live in my heart forever

just as you are with me now,
perhaps before you were born 

and before we have even met.

Above all, always and forever,

I promise to treasure you

as the matchless treasure you are.

Adieu, my little one.

Until we meet,

I love you.

This blog is part of a Dog Agility Blog Action Day (DABAD) on performance dog health and happiness.

Portrait of Samurai

Samurai strikes a pensive pose.

Samurai has always been one of those dogs whose imperfection makes perfection, at least in our only slightly prejudiced eyes. We think he's like a model whose angular lines and long limbs and neck come across most beautifully in photographs and on canvas. 

And so, Mike began to turn a pensive photo of him, taken on our back porch, into a this graceful portrait. He's left it unfinished for awhile, but I love it even more because of it. It seems to capture the nature of our Samurai, always vibrant, but somehow, winsomely, just out of reach.

PAX2 CATCH2 Celebration

Two great little dogs have their day (x2).

Recently, my friend Mary and I celebrated a couple of pretty big achievements for our dogs Shae and Taylor. The two mighty munchkins had earned their second high agility titles, both in the span of about a year.

Mary ordered an agility-themed cake which was promptly devoured by well-wishers. Once again proving, if there's anything dog training people like more than dogs, it's cake!

Taylor, and his Yorkie friend, Shae, were turned out nicely for the occasion and we both brought our ribbons and bars to be signed.

It was a nice celebration and we are fortunate to have friends and fellow trainers who understand the effort that went into earning these titles.

Both Shae and Taylor are proof that you don't have to be a large dog to get a big job done (twice!).

Hope both these old friends have many more adventures to share in the years ahead. Both of them show how far you can go on little legs when you have determination.

Last dog this class

Tired papillon. Soft, soft bed.

And back we go to our hotel. Usually, something bare bones and simple. This time, a pleasant surprise. A real hotel. Nice cushy carpets. Dense, soft bed. It accepts pets, is the kicker, all for a basic pet hotel price. Dog and humans both, revel in our good fortune.

Even Samurai sleeps

My puppy Samurai is a whirling dervish. Always moving, seldom stopping. But sometimes, even the wildest little dogs must succumb to the comforts of a downy pillow. When they do, they are particularly endearing. One of those blessed, rare occurrences of nature, like the sun obscured by the moon.