Happiness

We're kind of weird women. Before we do something we research the heck out of it and getting a dog was no exception. We bought books and checked them out from the library and went on the Internet and talked to people and even figured out what trainers we'd use- all before we got Tug.

One cool thing Mama read was that dogs have 2 emotions: happiness & fear. "Happiness" is defined as the absence of "fear." It's actually a cool concept and the longer we have the boy the more I believe in it. He's such a simple soul. He really tries to do what's expected of him because he wants that extra "what a sweet boy" or ear scratch. He doesn't have a lot of wants (he's majorly spoiled, actually). The other day I looked at him lying spread-Eagle on his belly with toys stacked on top of each other so he can gnaw the uppermost one and realized that was a "happiness" moment. Not just because there was a rug to lie on and toys to chew but because he really doesn't know true "fear." I can count on one hand the times he's been petrified from fright. Oh, he shows some anxiety at times but if we act normal he settles down pretty quickly.

Last night Mama and I were watching Animal Planet and I got horribly upset about a well-loved dog who was hit by a car and had to have a leg amputated. Now, dogs handle that loss of a limb reasonably well and this wasn't even a neglect or abuse case. But I went to pieces. Before Tug I could watch those shows and marvel at how trusting even most of the injured creatures were when handled. Now, I watch them and look at Tuggums and think "what if something like that happened to him." It's a horrible thought and I really feel for those families as well as the little critters themselves.