Dog Days

Sometimes it's frustrating owning a dog. Especially one that pulls on the leash, barks at the mailman, and at the dog park tries to herd other dogs like they're sheep. But when I stop to think about how far Spencer has come since we got him four months ago, I realize that I can feel pretty proud.

Spencer looks healthier now than he ever has. His fur is shiny and soft. He's gone from being extremely shy of strangers to sometimes spontaneously seeking affection from them. On the leash, where he used to go mad at even a glimpse of another dog, he can usually maintain his composure when the other pooch is only a half a block away. And when he's tired enough, he can even meet other leashed dogs politely. (This, believe me, feels like a miracle.)

We've got some work to do with him yet -- but when I realize how much we've done, I realize how possible it is to achieve what we still have to do.
March 27, 2007 10:57 AM