Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love . . .  The thing everyone wishes for. Hard to find in this life, especially in humans. But if one looks to the animal world, it really isn't so hard to find.

After our son left for the wilds of Wyoming, taking his precious Saber, with him, our home was much quieter. More peaceful. Lots less barking. The food bill went down by half, and our older shepard, Shaba, settled in to a life of a single dog, once again. The first week or so he was lost, looking for his buddy around every corner. But once he became used to the soltitude, I think he started enjoying having my husband and myself, all to himself.

I, on the other hand, had a harder time with it. Shaba, after all, was really my husbands dog - and they both knew it. Saber, while he was with us, had become my dog. Followed me around, and just generally seemed to be more attached to me.

Now, with out my shadow following me, I felt kind of left out.

SO, we decided to go puppy shopping. What we found was a litter of German Sherhards that we fell in love with. Choosing just one was difficult, so we ended up with the one who really choose us.

He wasn't quite old enough to come home with us, yet. But 4 weeks later, he was . . . .

We named him Turk. For the first week after I brought him home, it was just he, Shaba, and me. My husband was out of town that week. That first day, he slept in my lap all afternoon. He quickly became my new shadow.

He loves his crate, but would much prefer to sleep with me. If I am sewing, he is at my feet. If I am in the kitchen, he follows me. If I am in the living room, he is trying to get in my lap. He cries when I leave him, and when I arrive back home, he yips his excitement to see me.

To those who have had the pleasure of having a dog, these things might seem like no big deal. But, with all the dogs we have had as pets, Saber included, none of them have ever really belonged to ME.

So, I am now experiencing for the first time, the joy of having a dog who is my very own. He loves me unconditionally, without fail. Even when I get frustrated with his chewing or other puppy behaviors, and scold him, he still wants to be near me, still follows me around, still wants to climb in my lap.

The only problem I am having is that, at 12 weeks, my sweet adorable puppy is 40 pounds. Not exactly  a lap dog. But just as sweet!