Dogsitting

  
As I play the role of dogsitter this weekend, I am learning things about my beloved dog, Penny.  Particularly, that she is introverted, entitled, and an elitist when it comes to other dogs.



This is not the first time that I have "dogsat" and forced Penny to share her space with other dogs.  When we watched our next door neighbor's dog, a chihuahua, she seemed to do quite well, and the two wore us out as they played together seemingly non-stop.  We also have watched our landlord's shih tzu, and while Penny did get along with her neighbor, she was not nearly as playful and seemed to resent having to share her space and her toys.  This weekend, however, has proved more challenging, as Penny does not trust the corgie terrier that I am watching, and she seems to interpret the corgie's playfulness (she's a puppy used to playing with bigger dogs) as brash hostility.  I am left to conclude that Penny prefers the company of humans, seems to enjoy being the only dog in the house, and senses she is "above" other breeds of dogs, although she can get along with her own breed just fine.

I must admit that as I judge my dog's behavior, I need to first take the plank out of my own eye.  I relate to her tendencies to be introverted, entitled, and elitist in my own life, as I often fool myself into believing that I can do just fine on my own and don't need to seek the company of others, that I have earned the blessings and privileges I have been given, and that not everyone can really provide a meaningful contribution to my life through their interactions or relations with me (but I could sure teach them a thing or two).  It's funny to see the way a dog behaves and then to take note that I am pretty much living the same way in my own life.  As I hope that Penny softens her stance towards other dogs (which would make my job of dogsitting much easier), I also need to repent of my selfish tendencies and remove myself from being the center of my universe.  Thanks to Penny for helping me take a "paws" in my own life and consider lessons I can learn from her!