A dog-walking buddy (someone encountered while we were both walking our dogs) recently lost one of her dogs to cancer. Holly was just two, really still a puppy, so my friend thought there was lots of time for treatment. There wasn’t. Holly died within two weeks of the cancer diagnosis.

People — mostly those who don’t HAVE a dog — will say, oh, it’s just a dog. But it’s never ‘just a dog’ to someone who has been on the receiving end of the total adoration that is a dog’s bond with his or her human.

When my husband and I finally gave in to the pleading and agreed to get a dog, I seriously thought about how old our youngest son would be when the dog inevitably died, reassuring myself that he’d be old enough to handle it. There was no question that my own ability to handle it would be iffy, at best.

There was a wonderful piece in today’s Toronto Star on losing a dog that eloquently captures how I  know I will feel when Jake dies. Lauren Crothers writes:

“Grieving for a dog is an incredibly profound experience and no easier than the death of a human…While trawling the web for information on the process of euthanasia — so I would know how Murphy was going to die — I came across a comment left by someone along the lines of, ‘Who cares? It’s just a dog.’ It is for fear of this kind of reaction that many dog owners internalize their pain as they grieve. Just because it had four legs, chewed all the baseboards in the kitchen and perked up its ears at the sight of a bone doesn’t make the hurt any easier to bear.”

And later,

“Death is not easy to come to terms with. Losing a best friend is particularly difficult. It is never ‘just a dog.’”

I sent my friend a card to acknowledge her grief; it had a touching photo of an empty collar and leash on the front, which was enough to bring a lump to my own throat. Even though Jake, too, chewed all the baseboards in our kitchen, sheds so much that daily vacuuming is needed to keep the tumbleweeds of fur down, and has had me out walking in rain, snow and sub-zero weather, I know I’ll miss him when it’s his turn to go.

For now, thankfully, it’s just his turn to go for a walk.

We didn’t adopt Jake, our resident dog, from the local shelter. We did visit the shelter, and it just about broke my heart to see the animals waiting for a “forever” home. But we were looking for our first dog, and I thought it more likely dogs from a shelter would have “issues” — behavioural problems I didn’t feel equipped to handle. Little did I know that dogs, like people, come with their own personalities and issues, which you have to deal with anyway. I’ve done some volunteer work this year for my local Humane Society, and that inside look has convinced me that adopting from a shelter is a good thing.

But back to this special day, which for Jake is every day. In fact, the main reason we even have a dog is that I have a home office; that, along with the pleadings of two (then) small boys! Jake’s job is to make sure I get out and walk each day, rain or shine. He makes sure I stop working at a decent hour (his supper time). He also thinks his job is to bark at people who have the nerve to walk past our house. While sometimes this is annoying, there have been break-ins in the neighbourhood, and I have to think a vocal dog helps deter random crime.

So here’s to Jake and all the other dogs out there busy rounding out family life. Happy Take Your Dog to Work Day!

I bought a harness for him and use it faithfully, with a bribe to make it all worthwhile. I also met with an animal training expert, or as I like to think of the job, a dog whisperer. She guessed, as I did, that Jake’s issues stem from fear and he’s taking the ol’ preemptive strike when he lunges and barks at other dogs. She gave us homework that includes a pocketful of smelly jerky treats that I dispense in bits when we see a dog coming. We still cross the street too, but the whole idea is to make it a very GOOD thing when he sees a dog coming towards us. Jake is a very food-oriented dog and it seems to be working, somewhat. I just have to worry about coming away with all my fingers, because the only way he can get those treats in his mouth fast enough is to gobble.

For a description of what this is like, read Quinn Cummings’ QC Report. I can’t remember what treasure hunt led me to her blog but I regularly laugh out loud. In the scheme of things, the jerky treats are probably less stinky than Quinn’s salmon goodies, but I too have to wipe my hand after the slobbering is over.

“The total cost of buying, feeding and maintaining a dog the size of a Labrador retriever is, on average, equal to the cost of one Starbucks Espresso Frappuccino a day.”

Lucky for Jake that I don’t spend much time at Starbucks!

I found this out from a hanging door tag left by the local Humane Society while I was out. “Please call the officer below re: incident involving ‘Jake’,” it said. Uh oh!

While I was away one weekend, Jake had stayed with my mother, and she and a neighbour took him out for a walk. I am not sure whether he was being protective or not, but he lunged at another dog, barking and snapping. Hearing his name and going by the neighbourhood, the dog owner reported this “vicious” Black Lab to the pet police. I talked to the officer and Jake was let off with a warning, but we know his rap sheet is on file.

So I’m reading a book about communicating with your dog and reading the signals you give your dog (not always intentionally). It’s called The Other End of the Leash — Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Patricia B. McConnell. The author talks about how what seems to be doggy disobedience is simply a case of miscommunication. While communication is my business, Jake is my first dog, so I’m feeling my way around a bit. Next step may have to be doggy boot camp!

So here are some of the things we can learn from dogs, modified from a longer list making the rounds of the Internet (author unknown):

1. Stretch before rising.
2. Run, romp and play daily.
3. Take long walks.
4. On warm days, stop to lie down on the grass.
5. On hot days, drink lots of water and rest under a shady tree.
6. Eat with gusto.
7. Be loyal.
8. Never pass up the chance to go for a ride, and enjoy the wind in your face.
9. Take naps. Relax every muscle.
10. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

What else do you learn from your dog?

Although for a happy minute Jake thought we were at a new leash-free park, he came willingly into the building and was a very good boy. Jim was sleeping, so we just stayed a short time. I chatted with the family and Jake charmed everyone in sight. I can see why Labs are often used to help autistic children communicate.

Sadly, Jake never did get a chance to brighten Jim’s stay; several days later, Jim passed away.