Dogs are probably the most honorable, upstanding, creatures on the face of the planet and you can learn a lot of things from dogs.
For example my first dog, Pretzel, was a proud, fierce dachshund. He would take on German Shepherds regardless of whether they took him seriously or not. He was insanely loyal. He loved his family unconditionally. And despite his physical handicap of being a wiener dog, that never stopped him from pointlessly trying to kill as many squirrels, chipmunks, badgers, raccoons, and cats (his total kill tally was 0).
His replacement was Louise, a fat, orphaned dachshund that was very motherly. So motherly she would bark in a lecturing tone if people hadn't gotten up at a certain time. Upon our first meeting when I had come back home from college and was shredded from a 24 hour shift she somehow sensed that I was weakened and tired and "protected" me all night by sleeping at the foot of the futon in case I was somehow attacked by a late night assailant. The next day I immediately got the impression that she viewed me as her son as she followed me around not in a "gee you wanna play" manner, but a very protective, authoritative, but caring manner.
Constantly wanting attention. Constantly wanting to kiss me. Constantly wanting to set at the couch next to me. Constantly excited any time I would show up.
Over the years I noticed that Louise displayed a whole bevy of characteristics that if they were to be imbedded in a human woman, it would make for the perfect girl.
She was unrivalledly sweet, kind and caring.
She had unconditional and limitless love for her family.
She was so excited to see me she could barely control herself...and many times didn't as she would wet the floor...this last aspect would not be desirable in a girl.
She was completely loyal and protective.
She wouldn't just kiss me, she'd smother me with attention.
She would always want to play and appreciated the gifts I'd bring her (her favorite of which were squeak toys)
Sadly, Louise was a dog and dogs don't live forever, and thus, she passed away today. But as all dogs before her she left me something very important; a standard by which I judge all human girls.
Alas, it's a standard very few human girls meet, but that's just how great a dog she was.
22 comments:
My condolences.
Dogs love you even if you abuse them. Forgive me if I don't think they are the rolemodels for me.
You have my condolences, as it is really hard to lose a pet. I grew up with three great labrador retreivers, and I still cry when I think about how they aren't there anymore.
Personally, you've just described why I only go for "cat-men."
A cat can be more loyal than a dog, but you have to *earn* it first. When my husband is away on buisness, our cat won't eat, and won't let me pet him. He sulks by the door, and cries. Sometimes he pulls out an old shirt of my husband's and sniffs it longingly. When my husband comes home, our cat follows him around, and purrs loudly. All is right in the world. He won't harass him, but he watches him with a smile on his face, and cuddles whenever my husband invites.
All of my dogs had several people they liked. They can be moved from one family to another, and eventually be happy with it. When a cat has lost his or her "one and only" person, they mourn for life.
I'm not saying that dogs are worse than cats. I feel tender feelings for them, as they need so much to be protected.
I will say, though, that you might reconsider what a woman who is like that would *really* be like.
I am truely sorry for your loss, though.
Well you have a very odd cat then! Most cats I find to be like most women, indifferent, uncaring, self-serving.
I'll stick with my dog-like woman.
Thanks for the condolences, but it was afterall a dog.
Most people describe Toby (our cat) just as you’ve described all cats: Aloof, unaffectionate, and self-centered.
When I brought him home, he was semi-feral. He crouched under furniture and hissed at everyone who passed. If you reached down to pet him, you’d get your arms clawed.
He now, only loves my husband. He’s fond of me, but I know I come a distant second to his best buddy, my husband. Why? Not because the cat is strangely affectionate. Because my husband earned this cat’s affection.
My husband sat and talked softly to Toby when our kitten was afraid during those first few months. My husband patiently waited while the cat gingerly approached him, and petted him softly, withdrawing when the cat was afraid. My husband shared his food with his lil’buddy. My husband spent hours playing with him, and explaining gently that biting is not an acceptable means of communication. My husband did not demand instant obedience. He offered Toby several mutually beneficial trades.
“I will play with you, but only if you do not scratch me. You may sleep on my chest, but only if you don’t kneed me. I will not pet your tummy, but only if you don’t bite me.”
In return for all of this, my husband has the most fiercely loyal pet known to man. Toby *will not* accept pets and cuddles from anyone else. Toby snuggles up next to him at night for sleep. Toby hisses at strangers who come to close to my husband. Toby mourns when my husband is away, and snuggles in his lap watching basketball with his human.
It took a heck of a lot more work than a dog’s affection. But as an economist, surely you are familiar with Tanstaafl. Anything in life that is worth having is worth working for. I know a dozen people with cats who are life Toby, and they all put in the amount of work that my husband does. I know people with distant aloof cats, and usually they change the litter box and give the occasional scritches, and sigh that the cat doesn’t jump in their laps.
My husband is a good husband because he understands the principle of Tanstaafl. I too, understand the principle. My husband comes first, and before I make any decision, I ask myself “Will this make my husband happy.” He does the same of me. I am ecstatic to see him, and would be devastated if he left me. The minute he raised a hand to hit me, though, I’d leave him. If I stopped treating him with respect, he’d leave me.
I’m not trying to convert you to cat-worship. I’m just trying to explain why I worry about your comparing a dog to a grown woman. Dogs are dear creatures, but too much like children to make good spouses. Too much dependence, and not enough mutual respect.
If you find the rare bread of woman who is like a dog, then congratulations. I just have a hard time understanding even *wanting* it, especially a capitalist wanting it. To each their own, though. *smiles*
Try dating women and you'll see why we'd take dog like women over cat like women.
Perfect example is the current paradox I got now. The Redhead versus the Russian. The Russian has now flaked out twice at the last moment. The Redhead has at the last moment and on the whim decided to go out and do stuff with earnest and eagerness.
Guess who I have more fun with and guess who is more like the dog?
Well if you expect instant affection and obedience, then of course you prefer dogs.
But these relationships come at a price, and the price is that you will be easily replaced. You won't have the joy of someone who can look at you and see something less than perfect and love you *because* of that, rather than pretend your faults don’t exist. You also won't have the joy of a relationship that grows from mutual respect and hard work.
If you are pleased with the trade-off, than that is a good thing. So many men and women aren't aware that they are making this trade though. They expect a relationship to be something with quick, easy rewards and are stunned when these relationships don't last.
So many men and women express envy for our relationship. They wonder why their own relationships don't work out. So few of them examine what they expect out of it, though.
Most of them also don't understand why our cats behave so "unusually."
Well she's not throwing herself at me either. It's not like we're courting or anything. All I'm saying is on the onset I'd prefer a girl that is like a dog, happy, compassionate about life, excited.
Cats, the majority of which I've seen, not referencing yours, do not have that passion.
Now, of course the element of dogs being able to change owners and still be loyal, certainly i would not want that in a girl, but outside that it really boils down to a personal preference. I want a girl that is more like a dog than a cat, obvious pros and cons in both, but knowing my personality I want a dog, for alas, I am a dog like guy, and I want to chase cars, hunt squirrels, etc. with another dog. Not watch a cat groom itself and toy with a tassel every once in a while.
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