2000Z-71
Member
So I sit hear in the silence of my house enjoying a drink and the solitude after a long day. Today was my little girl's family party for her fifth birthday. Everyone has gone home, my wife and daughter have been long asleep and except for the presents scattered around the living room, everything has returned to normal. The one event that I remember from today more than the presents, candles or cake, is my dog playing with her best friend.
My dog is a one year old Akita that we rescued 6 months ago. He has got the most friendly and playful temperament of any dog that's ever been a part of our family. My daughter's best friend is only three months older than her and they've known each other since my daughter was 6 weeks old. He has had a rough road in life so far. As an infant and toddler he had chronic ear infections that have permanently affected his hearing and slowed his development. On top of this he is currently undergoing screening for autism.
He's a sweet kid, incredibly smart, but he is compulsive and prone to emotional outbursts. Many adults don't have the patience to deal with him. Many kids don't understand him. As a result he spends a lot of time alone. His parents are doing a phenomenal job with him, but his school even though it caters to kids with special needs, is falling well short.
But today in the back yard, none of that mattered. He'd throw the ball for my Akita and he would faithfully bring it back each and every time. He'd run and my dog would be right there with him every step of the way. He'd stop running and my dog would turn and face him, forelegs flat on the ground, butt up in the air, tail wagging, with ears alert and waiting for the next move. He'd trip and fall and my dog would come skidding to stop, lay down next to him and start licking his face encouraging him to get right back up.
Some of the other children, including my own daughter saw this and wanted to play with my dog as well. They'd pick up a tennis ball and throw it and he'd just stand there and look at them and make no effort to go retrieve it. But as soon as that five year old boy threw a ball, my dog was off like a shot to bring it back to him. That made him feel incredibly special, like he had a gift that no one else did.
For once in that kid's life, he found someone who never ran out of patience, would be there with him at every step, would be encouraging to get up and keep trying and treated him like he was special. He had a couple of emotional breakdowns today, but each time he would come out in the yard, play with my dog for a few minutes, and everything was right in his little world again. That was amazing to me since I have seen some of his emotional outbreaks last for well over an hour.
It just never ceases to amaze me the powers of empathy that dogs have and the bonds that they form with people.
My dog is a one year old Akita that we rescued 6 months ago. He has got the most friendly and playful temperament of any dog that's ever been a part of our family. My daughter's best friend is only three months older than her and they've known each other since my daughter was 6 weeks old. He has had a rough road in life so far. As an infant and toddler he had chronic ear infections that have permanently affected his hearing and slowed his development. On top of this he is currently undergoing screening for autism.
He's a sweet kid, incredibly smart, but he is compulsive and prone to emotional outbursts. Many adults don't have the patience to deal with him. Many kids don't understand him. As a result he spends a lot of time alone. His parents are doing a phenomenal job with him, but his school even though it caters to kids with special needs, is falling well short.
But today in the back yard, none of that mattered. He'd throw the ball for my Akita and he would faithfully bring it back each and every time. He'd run and my dog would be right there with him every step of the way. He'd stop running and my dog would turn and face him, forelegs flat on the ground, butt up in the air, tail wagging, with ears alert and waiting for the next move. He'd trip and fall and my dog would come skidding to stop, lay down next to him and start licking his face encouraging him to get right back up.
Some of the other children, including my own daughter saw this and wanted to play with my dog as well. They'd pick up a tennis ball and throw it and he'd just stand there and look at them and make no effort to go retrieve it. But as soon as that five year old boy threw a ball, my dog was off like a shot to bring it back to him. That made him feel incredibly special, like he had a gift that no one else did.
For once in that kid's life, he found someone who never ran out of patience, would be there with him at every step, would be encouraging to get up and keep trying and treated him like he was special. He had a couple of emotional breakdowns today, but each time he would come out in the yard, play with my dog for a few minutes, and everything was right in his little world again. That was amazing to me since I have seen some of his emotional outbreaks last for well over an hour.
It just never ceases to amaze me the powers of empathy that dogs have and the bonds that they form with people.
