Our Dog Shadow
What If He Could Talk?
We think our dog Shadow is pretty smart. He is a black
lab (with little bit of something else).
In March, 1989, someone dropped him over our backyard fence when he was just barely weaned. He's been entertaining us ever since.I often find him intently staring at me with a knowing look on his face. He anticipates our movements. When one of us gets up from a chair, he's instantly on his feet, ready to follow. Or he may anticipate where we are headed and lead the way, looking back for assurance. I'm sure your pet does similar things.
For instance, when I go to the closet and get my tennis shoes, he begins to whine. You can see the excitement all over his face. Usually that means I am preparing to go for a morning walk. Even though he does not join me it's still exciting to him. He goes bounding out the back door. I follow him then go out the side gate. Somehow this is fun for him. He is there to greet me 45 minutes later when I return.
Usually he reclines in the office under one of the work tables by the north window. Every day a squirrel comes to our back yard to eat. Anticipating his arrival is entertaining to Shadow. The squirrel makes his way across the street, then up our fence to the roof. From there he goes down the back side of the house onto the patio to munch on bird seed. Shadow watches for him. When he spots him through the north office window, he quickly moves to the back of the house to look out the patio window.
During the day as Margaret or I walk from the office to the kitchen, or out to the back yard, he's as close as our own shadow. That’s why we named him Shadow.
He loves it when we put a popcorn pack into the microwave. He always gets a few kernels which we toss his way. And when I am in the kitchen to get a graham cracker, or some other snack, he keeps his eyes on my hands the whole time. He is very observant. When he notices that there is nothing left in either hand, he usually saunters off. He has such an alert look I have often wondered what he would say if he had a voice and could talk. Then when I think more about it, I realize that really would not be such a good idea. Can you imagine what a talking dog might say:
 | "More food, hurry" |
| "Stop touching me so much." |
| "Why won't you let me go out and chase that squirrel?" |
| and in the morning, "Hey wake up I need to go out." |
So, perhaps it's better the way it is , just a whine, a wagging tail, or a bark.
Do you suppose God ever wondered why he gave us a voice?
Shadow was put to sleep Dec. 30, 1999. He was ten. Our dear friend, devoted loyal companion.
