SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The changing of the seasons helps us see the same world that was here last month with fresher eyes.
And human senses might grow even sharper with the guidance of pets who rediscover “now” each moment. They do it through their own powers of observation.
Our rescue of summer 2023, a very clever canine, is eager to start the process anew every morning, barking if I tarry.
She came with the name of “Electra,” but that sounded rather tragic. “Happy” we dubbed her, and she complied.
Once on the leash and out in the morning air, she is excited about snacks of acorns on the ground and fresh green blades of grass. Any treats in my pocket are temporarily forgotten.
Thankfully, she has learned to restrain a powerful impulse to leap toward every squirrel, bark at every bird, grab that frantic chipmunk. She no longer tries to herd the UPS trucks, sanitation crews or unwitting motorcyclists.
But if a rabbit or deer happens to linger on someone’s lawn … I keep a firm grip on that leash for a reason. That will not stop her from attempting to turn me into a human pretzel as she attempts to fly. “Happy, sit.” “Happy, calm.” And I try to do the same.
Early in her first summer with us (2023) I did not know her strength. I soon did – when she did a dazzling leap toward a roaming deer. Like — Rudolf as in the dancer Nureyev or that mythic reindeer.
When her genetic tests came back; I was not surprised that “Norwegian Elkhound” was detected plus the rather obvious “Australian cattle dog.” She is born to herd, and right now, she rustles me.
Happy’s glimpses of the world are mediated by an extraordinary nose. I marvel at her face when she lifts her head to catch a scent wafting through the air. A dog’s olfactory sense is exponentially more powerful than ours. The day I had an appointment in a building of low ceilings and scant ventilation – with soup boiling in the snack bar – was the closest I have come to that sensation. The entire hallway smelled like soup…the aroma permeated my hair, my coat. Like a dumpling in hot, rich broth. I was saturated.
To Happy, saturation is routine.
And if fall brings a sudden rain shower, a blessing in a drought, Happy does not waver. Even when white fur is soaked and velvety black spots rise to the surface, her spirit soars. She waits with grace for the rub-down in the basement. Her collar comes off and I can see why her pull is so persuasive.
Who else in my circle…who else in North America…has neck muscles like that?
Rather than pull a sled laden with toys up and down a steep hill, she’d knock the Grinch over and subvert his evil plan.
Each morning I note subtle tree changes. I imagine Happy taking note of the increasing pungency of fall’s leaf-mold and the scent of burrowing creatures. Perhaps the orange, yellow, red, brown leaves are resonant as fine wine. And when she shuffles through a long line of crunchy fallen leaves, I think of cornflakes.
I ponder Happy’s adjustment. Some exploits have been those of a toddler. The morning she escaped through the porch door in a flash, then ran up and down front walkways leading to neighbors’ homes. This seemed a ritual she had learned in another time and place.
And there was the evening her deft snout swallowed two huge, flat mushrooms when we were out walking. I said “drop, drop” too late. The skilled team at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Highland Heights retrieved from her mighty stomach two flat chicken slices.
Has someone figured out how to grow chicken slices on their lawn?
We had lovely training experiences at Sirius Strides Pet Training and Grooming, also in Highland Heights. Why does a dog have incredible prey drive? Obvious, right? Breeding. Why would a dog toss throw pillows in the air, even a bookmark? Clearly, she wants attention.
And what does it mean when a dog zooms around the house like a sports car? None of our other dogs ventured to try it, but they did not have various herding ancestors and could not run — not like that.
Just as we sought out optimal preschool for our son, Happy’s ideal teachers involved some trial and error.
With all our rough edges as parents, you may wonder: Why did Happy adopt us? At the shelter when I asked her, “would you like to be Mommy’s good dog?” she lingered at the front of her crate. When we were together for the first time in a little room, my husband said “she knows sit!” She then showed she could lay down and roll over, without any prompting.
She can also ride cheerfully in a car, smile at workers in the drive-thru and rest in a crate as if it were a soft mattress. She befriends veterinary staff, even those that examine her. With every adoption comes both wonder and relevant work. Curbing her enthusiasm without breaking an iota of her spirit has been our quest, and she is indeed learning.
Day by day, we can learn from our human-animal bond. Without these creatures, we might be in too much of a rush to notice subtle details of the seasons.
And we would likely miss the touch of creatures who communicate eloquently, and love sincerely, without uttering one word.
Write on! Please share local accolades, accomplishments and events by writing to mariashinestewart@gmail.com
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