“Jess, run.. run!!! The dragon is right behind you.” chimed the knight. I wasn’t going to be petrified by a mere flame breathing dragon. I turned around to put an end to this ruckus and decided to kill the dragon with my valyrian steel sword. The dragon was too close and I could feel its warm breath. The breath was getting warmer and dragon was coming closer. The dragon was then about to throw flames out of its flared nostrils and I yelped as I felt warm. And then I felt gooey water trickle down my face which was uncanny. I woke up with a jerk just to realize that it was all but a dream and my dog, Stinson was the one who licked me out of it. It was half past midnight and he was whining trying to tell me something. It took me a second to be out of my uncoordinated warrior state to realize that something was wrong. So I followed him and he led me to the washroom. I was even more astonished to find my mum and brother already waiting to figure our why our dog had woken them up. A few seconds later my dad emerged from the washroom and we narrated our dogs behavior to him. He said nothing but went and hugged Stinson. All of us who were droopy spectators had no idea what was going on. Then my dad explained that Stinson had seen him slip in the washroom and maybe had hence woken us all up. This is one of the very few when a dog’s alertness is accountable.
Dogs are always known for their vigilance and alert nature. They have an insight when there are discrepancies in nature. Other than their unequivocally loving nature their instinct is another wonderful trait. They know when someone is sick they behave in a very passive and loving way to ailing person. The author Milan Kundera has rightly quoted that “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” In my lowest low days Stinson comes and sits right next to me, there is no exchange of words or gestures but just that little comfort which is so soothing. This is the behavior involved with the caring side of the canines. They also have a alert and sometimes really annoying behavior of barking. The thing we fail to understand and realize is that the dog usually barks for a reason and not for the sole purpose to annoy the humans in the vicinity. I’ve also learnt that Stinson has different types of barks. He has a different bark when he is hungry or needs water, a really shrill and continuous bark when he wants to go out, a vicious one when he is alert or finds something uncanny. It is important for dog owners to differentiate the barks so that they know what exactly the dog is trying to say. Humans don’t speak the dog language but eventually you do start understanding the various versions of barks that your mutt has. If you are successful in deciphering the barks the communication between your dog and you will increase and your bond will grow more stronger.
I had painted a picture of my dog in my mind as a very laid back and over friendly canine. This perception was ruined when he was introduced to a dog which was very hostile. The hairs on his back stood and he got into a defensive position snarling at the other dog. He made me realize that according to the varying situations he has the ability to adapt. A canine usually get very defensive when another canine walks into their marked territory. The dogs are usually living in packs and they together chase out the dogs that dare to walk into their territory. The possessive and leadership behavior of dogs in such situations is worth applauding. This has led to me carrying a stick every time I take Stinson for a walk.
We as humans react differently to different situations. We have clenched fists and a frown for the display of anger, dreamy eyes for when we are love struck, a smile for everything that makes us happy. Similarly, dogs have their versions to such situations as well. For example, they growl and have a defensive position when angry, they are a little open or blunt when it comes to being love struck especially when the love interest is around, they love running around in circles and jumping around when they are happy. Dogs have a lot of traits that can set amazing examples to us humans. The dog in general is a very disciplined animal. They have a time for everything. Before the clock strikes 5 AM my dog is ready with his leash for his morning walks. I’ve always been in awe of this quality because he definitely doesn’t know to read the time on the clock. The canines also have a routine and strict diet. They will only eat at times they are accustomed to eating and don’t tend to over eat. Unlike us humans who sit with a bag of chips for anything and everything which leads to an unhealthy lifestyle. The trait of unconditional love does not need to spoken of as that is the sole reason of it being the favorite kind of pet. This profound truth has been seconded by the famous and one of my favorite Hollywood actor Johnny Deep as he states that “The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.”
Dogs along with their loving nature and their veracious instincts make them a whole package. They have a loving side and an equally aggressive side. They are capable of giving you ‘the puppy eyes’ and are equally capable of giving you the growls in hunger pangs. Every dog owner will agree with me that a dog makes our lives whole. Its half past one in the morning and Stinson has just entered the room. He has these droopy eyes and has such a big yawn that I could see his intestines. He with a really sleepy face is telling me its time to go to bed and wander into the land of dreams!