For Dog Lovers

Okay, I know this is not fly fishing related. However, there have been threads about dogs and many here have mentioned the close relationships and bonds they have/had with theirs. So this may be of interest.

I recently finished reading the book, WAR DOGS: A History of Loyalty and Heroism. In the Epilogue is a piece by an unknown author titled ?The Creation of Man?s Best Friend?:

God summoned a beast from the field, and He said,
?Behold man is created in My image. Therefore adore him. You shall protect him in the wilderness, shepherd his flocks, watch over his children, accompany him wherever he may go-even into civilization. You shall be his companion, his ally, and his slave.
?To do these things, I endow you with the instincts uncommon to other beasts: Faithfulness, Devotion, and Understanding, surpassing those of man himself. Lest it impair your courage, you shall never foresee your death. Lest it impair your loyalty, you shall be blind to the faults of man. Lest it impair your understanding, you are denied the power of words. Speak to your master only with your mind and through your honest eyes.
?Walk by his side; sleep in his doorway; ward off his enemies; carry his burden; share his affections; love and comfort him. And in return for this, man will fulfill your needs and wants-which shall be only food, shelter, and affection.
?So be silent and be a friend of man. Guide him through the perils along the way to this land I have promised him. This shall be your destiny and your immortality?
The dog heard and was content.

A little P.S.: A few thousand dogs served in Vietnam. None came home!

Allan

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif Well, that pretty well describes my dog in a nutshell. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif

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Official Flyfishing gear tester. Liscense # OUC-I12-JC

A long time ago when the earth was young everyone lived together, hunted together, fished together, played together.
One day the Great Spirit came by and called all the people together. He said, ?Now listen up!?, and as He spoke he drew a long line in the sand. He then said, ?I want all of you that call yourself mankind to step to this side of the line.? When all had done so, He said, ?I want all of you who call yourself critterkind to step to that side of the line.?, and all did so. The Great Spirit then said, ?From now, this is how it shall be.?
He raised his arms and a mighty thunder rolled across the land. The line in the sand became a crack in the earth that reached to its very center and grew wider and ever wider, forever seperating critter from man.
As the earth continued to split, a great howling could be heard. A sound so loud the Great Spirit covered his ears, and for an instant the earth stood still. The sound was man calling for dog, and dog calling for man, for they could not be apart. In that instant, before the distance was to great, dog jumped across to be with man, and this is how it shall be.

Great stuff guys, really. Thanks for the posts.


Mark

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I'd rather be in Wyoming!

no matter where it is or whose it is, I dearly love dogs. They are all that is described above and become as much a part of the family as is possible. Somewhere, I read something about dogs that has stayed with me a long long time, and I only wish I could remember from whom it came. But this statement stood out and I like to remember it every time I have my 2 "boys" around...
"I just want to be half the man my dogs think I am".........

Thanks tyflies and splitditch, you sure have brought a wonderful end to a very long day....

My dog was truly my best friend.

I miss him!

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Joe

Way to go folks! All I can say is, EXCELLANT!
Neat reads, wish I could contribute. I hope there is more!

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Land Em',
Carp

A good friend found a dog. He took it home and made her his dog. Her name is Mandy and she will actually smile at people she knows!
Yes smile! When she sees me it's a couple of woofs and a smile! Sort of a "Hi Jack glad to see ya"!
My friend is in an ICU in very bad shape. The family visited him Sunday with "Mandy" (now a dog in a hospital was unheard of not too long ago!!). That evening they removed the tubes and he ate his first solid food in days! Do you think "His Dog" had a hand in his road to recovery? I do?

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I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!

Cactus AKA "Lucky Dog (Pirate Name)"

[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 18 July 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 18 July 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 18 July 2005).]

A Dog's Prayer


Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more
grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand
between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me
the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must
know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my
waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated
animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory then
the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no
home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the
softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I
am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you
were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that
I may do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready and able to
protect your with my life should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my
health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your
arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest-- and I will
leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in
your hands

Dear Board,

Great stuff. Here's one from Rudyard Kipling in memory of those dogs who have passed on.

Four Feet

I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can't forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through --
Wherever my road inclined --
Four-feet said, "I am coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round, --
Which I shall never find --
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

Regards,
Tim Murphy

Awwww...that's some great stuff!

I am owned by 2 doxies. Cocoa, age 14. Patches, age 8.

Saw a bumper sticker the other day...

Lord, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am.

-Pat

Somewhere along the road of life,
I've heard the phrase -
"all dogs go to heaven"

I don't doubt it.

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Knowledge is power ? Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
? Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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The_Sib

Jack Hise, you mention "dogs in hospital"...my Golden Retriever (Lancaster) is a Therapy Dog and we visit the hospital with great regularity. I cannot count the number of times that Lancaster's visit to the patient has been changed the outlook of the patient. Nurses, Docs, & relatives come to us with stories of the sunshine Lancaster brings to the room. Particularly with, what we call the Oncology Kids. We spend the preponderance of our time in PICU (Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit), Ped Oncology, Pediatrics, Oncology, Ped ER, etc. If there is time left, we then check into other wards in the hospital. The only place Lancaster doesn't go in our hospital (Banner Desert, Tempe, AZ) is where babies are less than 6 weeks old.

So many studies have been done regarding the therapudic effect that dogs have on people with infirmaties. All give great credance to dog's ability to make life better for those he/she come into contact with....lowering blood pressure on overworked hospital staff, giving scared kids a feeling of comfort, bringing smiles to worried parents, etc. etc.

People who are hospitalized should ask the duty nurse to request a Therapy Dog visit. A large number of hospitals have the program in place now days.

Without 4-1/2 year old Lancaster in our house, life for me would hold a large void. I dearly dread the day that Lancaster needs to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. However, it is comforting to know that he'll be patiently waiting for me on the other side when it's my time to cross over that same bridge.

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Snow on the roof but with fire still in the hearth

A house without a dog is just a building, not a home.

Lux

All great truthful stuff folks. Unfortunately we lost our beloved Rhonda to a rare form of canine cancer at 5:55pm on Friday July 15, 2005. She was a beautiful English Springer Spaniel (field breed) who passed away long before her time at 8yrs 7 mos of age. Our home seems empty, for she is very sadly missed.

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Its not just dogs, cats, rabbits and all sorts of domesticated animals visit hospitals and nursing homes and such. My wife used to work for a nursing home and she always looked forward to the animals coming in. Its amazing that those suffering from later stages of Alzheimers still remember how to lovingly treat a dog, at least according to my wife.

Yep, theres an organization dedicated to therapuetic pets, Pets on Wheels, I believe its nationwide.

Paul

I love dogs - plain and simple - always had one on the farm - so I grew up ... needing one. However, compatability with the family is a serious matter as well. Though I adored the block headed black lab - he was too much the bulldozer for the kids - including stair ways. We gave him away to a friends neighbor - he's doin great on acerage now chasing squirrels.
We had a Jack Russel - smart little thing she was. One growl - bared teeth and all - at the newborn (2yrs ago) put me between her teeth and the baby. She loved kids - just not infants. Sold to a family she latched to the second they arrived.
But I needed a dog - so, hesitantly last year, I picked up a golden (wife found him). I trained him in line with R.A. Wolters Water Dog book (in hopes). He is now THE BEST, most well behaved dog I have ever been with. He's still a teen - and has his grumpy moods. But he listens, reacts to hand signals - and best of all - does it with a smile.

A lot of writings come oh-so-close to defining the right dog you have ... close.

They put a smile on your face, warmth in your heart. They take praise with only a wag of the tail, and listen to your woes and nudge you with their nose as if to say 'it'll be ok'.
They are truly - unselfish.

I'm as guilty as the next - but, we could learn a bit from them.

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a wise man will hear and increase in learning;
and a man of understanding will acquire wise council

Just received the follwing email.

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to! the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."


[This message has been edited by bluehackle (edited 23 July 2005).]

Blue Hackle, great story. Guess we're on the right track here in AZ w/ Lancaster...our general approach to life is if he can't go, we don't go. (Unfortunately, here in the USA dogs that are not Service Dogs generally are not allowed in areas where food is served, therefore that is the one place where we have to leave Lancaster behind at home or in the COOL car.)

BTW, Lowes has a national policy allowing dogs in their stores, Home Depot has a store to store policy (but I've never found one that didn't allow well behaved dogs). Further, some WallyWorlds allow dogs in the non food areas and I've taken Lancaster into a couple of Michael's stores. The Biltmore shopping area in Phoenix allows dogs in all stores including Macy's, etc.

One caution to all of you who live in areas where cars heat up in the parking lot, don't leave your dog or kids in the car, even if only for a moment....they can and do die. Happens every year in AZ. Just as stupid as letting little tykes drown in the backyard pool. "I was only gone for a few seconds" is too often heard.

BTW, our dog wears booties when he needs to walk across the hot pavement. If you don't want to walk on the hot asphalt in your bare feet, think how the dog feels.

Sorry for the long windedness but we've a passion for our best friends in our home.

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Snow on the roof but with fire still in the hearth

Enjoyed the many comments and stories...thanks...so this will assist the looks "we" get when walking along a river BANK and not disturbing any anglers?
signed POLO, 100 lb. German Shepherd

Viewed as a bumper sticker on a passing car:

"DOG IS MY CO-PILOT"

The more time I spend around people the more I like my dog.

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Mike