“Just love,” I call out, throwing my voice ahead of me, as Pettigrew hurries us towards the woman in the neon yellow jacket standing in the middle of the street with her arms stretched wide. Sandy, the school crossing guard, keeps a pocketful of treats for the dogs that pass her intersection. A flash of … Continue reading Just Love
Category: love
Know When to Hold, Know When to Fold
The list of Pettigrew’s triggers (see What's a Trigger) has blissfully shrunken. FedEx? UPS? They now pass by unremarked and unmolested. Pettigrew saves his ire for the mail carrier. Yes, those foolish, foolish USPS workers wear the same, easily identifiable uniform. Plus, there are still some of the old trucks rumbling on the roads and causing us … Continue reading Know When to Hold, Know When to Fold
Everything I Need to Know I Learned When My Kids Were Toddlers
Books with titles like All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten make me suspicious. It’s the all-inclusiveness of the title that turns me off. My husband would say I am being too literal. In fact, going online to confirm that I had remembered the wording correctly (I hadn’t), I see it is … Continue reading Everything I Need to Know I Learned When My Kids Were Toddlers
A Suspicious Soul Warms
My husband claims it is hard to buy me gifts. In our family lore is the time he showed up for a date bearing carryout Indian food and a Spanish-language birthday card inadvertently smeared with sauce. It wasn’t my birthday. I don’t speak Spanish. I will admit, I didn’t gush. Maybe I even looked perplexed. … Continue reading A Suspicious Soul Warms
The Fur’s Flying in My Language of Love
The Languages of Love according to Gary Chapman: gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and physical touch. The Languages of Love according to Pettigrew: tummy rubs, behind the ear scratches, above the tail scratches, people food samples (especially from the grill), and rawhide bones. My Languages of Love appear to be morphing … Continue reading The Fur’s Flying in My Language of Love
Dog Dictionary: A concise dictionary of canine-to-English and English-to-canine language
My efforts to unravel the mystery of communicating with my dog. I share this dictionary with you in hopes it will help you too. Or, if not, at least it will make you smile.
Mirror, Mirror Leaning Against the Wall, Who’s the Fairest of Them All?
A mirror leaning against the wall is just the right height for Pettigrew to check out his reflection. I never knew dogs were vain! I like to imagine him mugging and posing when no one is home.
A Look, a Lick, & a Promise That All Will Be Well
Given that Pettigrew is a reactive dog, I never thought I would be catching calmness from him. Once again, he proved me wrong.
Remembering the One Who Got Away
As Garth Brooks's memorably sang, "Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers." We went to the shelter to adopt Shadow, but Pettigrew is the dog who came home with us. We got lucky.
The Command I Never Tried to Teach Is the One Pettigrew Knows the Best
When I say, "Grandmom and Pop Pop are here," Pettigrew charges the back door. If only I could claim credit for training him to do this! But Pettigrew knows that phrase means a guaranteed dog treat and the chance to lick Grandmom's tasty hands.
Ruth Polk 