A Big Hunk of Love

I just love looking at him. All 160 pound of our beautiful 10 year old dog. He is a big hunk of love and every day he makes me happy. He protects us, entertains us, obeys us (and disobeys us when he really feels the need). Individually, he has stolen the heart of every member of this family with his quirky ways, with his intelligence, his adorable looks, his efficient guard dog behavior, letting strangers know with just a “look” that he is watching them”. He patrols the yard of a morning to make sure nothing is altered and he needs to sniff and inspect any parcel delivered or “new” item introduced to the house. His gentleness, his eagerness to please, his childlike pleasure when offered a new toy, or a walk in the park, the dance he does when any one of us comes home accompanied by yelps of delight and the gift of his slobbery toy that he brings to greet us, are all wonderful habits of our beautiful mate. His contentment to just lie about in the same room when it’s time for the family to relax, makes him just one of the family. We are endeared by his carefulness to avoid obstacles as he walks around the house and in ore at the huge size he has become. We are touched by his little whimpers when one of us leaves, and by his vigilance watching the gate at about the time they routinely return home. Amused by his odd habit as he stands “hiding” under foliage for minutes every day and his grumpiness every Monday as they all disappear off to work after him having their company all weekend. We are used to the ouch of his weight as he “accidentally” treads on your toe if he is being ignored, his slobbery “kisses” and his need to rip to shreds in the shortest possible time, every expensive indestructible toy we buy him. He lets us know with a certain “woof” if his water bowl doesn’t have sparkling clean fresh water ( without drool), and waits til one of us change it for fresh water. We are truly touched by his willingness to sit quietly beside the family member who is ill or sad, not demanding attention, but silently just “being there”. "I smile and am thankful when I see doggy footprints and pools of drool on the floor, nose prints on the windows, dog hair all over my good clothes, and no room left on the sofa, because I know one day all this will be missed." Last three lines -Bumper Sticker - Anon.-