Calvin Coolidge - Whatever

No matter what anyone thinks - I love my dog :)  He makes me laugh.  He's not overly needy, but just needy enough.  He's got this attitude that says - paw in face - "whatever...."   Its like he's said that he has a ... hm - a moral case for economy.... of attention. He never asked to be petted - well, at least not right now - just wait for a while and then he'll want it.  Ball - excuse me - you throw it - you get it... And don't even get me started on "COME" - what is he - a DOG!  Loyalty - oh you'll get it, just don't ask for it in an abundance of show - but its there.

I have to tell you though,  I've discovered he's an amazing trail buddy when I'm out hiking or just want some company on my snowshoes or skis - he'll just plod along beside me and occasionally do the obligatory squirrel chase down, and then come back to my side for a continued trek.  He's headed to Door County with me this weekend for just that!  He's also a great travel buddy - getting in the car - you don't have to ask him twice, and then he just takes his seat and away we go with his little face resting on the window waiting for the next stop (which is hopefully at the dog park...).

And to excitedly share a passage from a book that I'm rereading from long ago - James Herriot "All Creature Great And Small - Volume 1".... reading from page 21.... a reminder of how one person can see the value in one amazing dog - especially one of the airedale family....

"Right, I'll put anther pint of bismuth carb for him.  I'm in favour of long-range treatment for this dog.  He looks like and airedale but he's as big as a donkey and has a moody disposition.  He's had Joe Mulligan on the floor a few times - just gets him down and worries him when he's got nothing better to do.  But Joe loves him."

See - James Herriot understood an airedale is sometimes a dog that only his owner can love... :)  But you have to appreciate that dog for the sake of the owner that loves him - right....

And after a dig through the trash, or a case down to get him in the bathtub, or the cupcakes that he's helped himself to that are sitting on the kitchen table... All is forgiven when you see how exhausted he gets after just trying to keep one person so happy....

No matter what anyone else thinks about my dog - he's my amazing dog :)  I know - its sad that I'm writing a blog post about my dog... but, as Calvin would say - paw in face "whatever...."

Stay tuned for the continued adventure of Calvin in the great wild and snowy north.....