I’ve been pondering my little man (canine) status of late. I’m just a face in the crowd. There are two humans, two cats, and then there’s me.
The lone canine.
I’m the alpha male canine of our family. It’s a big task taking on the duties of protecting the house and yard when your only a foot tall. At that height, I’m a superhero in my own mind. Even so, there are times in the day I find it’s mighty important to remain adorable enough to be cuddled and carried around in the comfort of Mom’s arms. Especially when I’m scared or cold. I can’t be brave all the time!?!
Six years ago, my big brother left our family with a huge space in our hearts, and on the dining room floor. I was left with the last canine standing role.
Nick tried to do the “climb in Mom’s arms thing” but he never quite fit like I do. Instead, he learned it was best to claim the floor space where canines recharge (I’ve come to learn that it works for felines, too.).
Master Nick was the one who taught me to bark at noises, eat scraps off the floor, pee with my leg up in the air, how to chase bunnies out of the yard and eat the delicious nuggets they leave behind.
Nick was my hero.
Oh, I get by, though, don’t you worry none. As I sleep in the sun, I soak in the sun’s rays and take on superpowers like Batman.
The superpowers help me face scary things like encrusted snow on the ground, invisible people who come to the front door, and shards of ice scrapings on the edges of my paths.
Mom thinks all this cold stuff is pretty. She’s been carrying her camera around, going from window to window, clicking away. I don’t get the winter photography thing? It is way more fun when the ground is green, and I get to join her on adventures outside. But she seems happy, so I guess that’ll do until spring.
As for me, the ice on the ground isn’t pretty, it’s scary. It crackles and crunches and I hate walking on it. The worst things happen as I’m obediently following the human commands of, “Go do your job.”
I’m impressed with myself as I muster the courage to go do it. I stabilize myself, do the lift my leg thing like Nick taught me, and then out of the blue, the house pops. And sounds echo around me like shrapnel firing in the cold. It freaks the hell out of me. I don’t know how I do it, but I pinch off the flow and run back in the house without doing my other business. It must be my superpowers.
When the sun is shining, and the house isn’t popping, I can be distracted enough to stand still, sniff and wait for signs of intruders. That’s when I’m the bravest.
When I hear geese in the air or neighbor dogs barking, I’m lost in the moment. I let them know I’m protecting the yard by barking back, “This is my yard, stay away.” Nick would be so proud of me.
Yep, I’m a super canine – don’t mess with me!
But, this doing my business on the cold icy ground is for the birds. Those damn cats have it good with the litter box thing they got going on. Even if dare assay that my breath stinks like Nick’s did, I never took to eating cat poop like he did. I’m more of a bunny poop connoisseur. Speaking of poop, I can’t hold it any longer…gotta kick in my superpowers and go do my other business…
What kind of super dog stories do you have to share? I loved to hear about your big dog, little dog, and of course your super dog?
Great . You have written the thoughts of a pet . That’s awesome. I loved that :).
Thank you, Bakshi!
Always welcome mam 🙂
Love this! Great job.
Thank you, Lynette, I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
All that pointy ears and bravado, he melts like the snow on the ground. Bark as the sign of Intruder alert when geese and bunnies are the main enemies. Sorry to see your super hero, you take over, Robin.
Love your reply, well done!