As I switched on the TV to a movie channel, I saw the movie Marley and Me being shown there. I have seen this movie many times and never get tired of watching again again. it is the same with another beautiful dog movie called Hatchiko.
Both these movies start with usual antics of a puppy, and then goes on to document each and every stage of their growing up, their naughty behaviour, there unconditional love for the owners, who sometimes get totally frustrated with their respective dog. In both the movies it is the women who get very irritated with the unmanageable traits of curious, and destructive traits of the dog
As I watched these movies again and again, I relived my days with our two dogs that came into our lives and did all the things that drove me to the brink of despair.
I would often yell at the, dog/ puppy and then within seconds, would find my heart melting when she looked at me innocently with her lovely eyes, saying,"mommy what did I do wrong", jumping as soon a she saw me melting, lickng my face happpily, and pissing on my lap with excitement.
I would feel so bad, I would hug her cuddle her and, everything would be fine till something terrible happens again.
At some point we realise that bringing up a pup is not so easy, it is just like bringing up a baby. For it will act like a baby, and for the puppy you are everything rolled into into one: a mother she/ or he can trust, a friend with whom she/ he can roll and play, and a person who can be quite strict sometimes, but who will also forgive and love him/her all over again.
Like with kids, mommy is the strict one and Papa is the one who is more lenient.
Do they love one more than the other, the answer is definitely no, for a puppy/dog, love flows unconditionally to both the care givers.
When any of them fall sick both mom and dad are worried, more the moms than the dads. All the pampering would be done by the moms.
As they grow older, we come to realise they have become very matured and well behaved. It is always a pleasure to have dogs at home. You can pour out all sorrows to them, and they would listen to you patiently, licking you, comforting you, without understanding a word. When you are happy and share some good news with them also they are very excited and happy for you, wagging their tales endlessly to show how happy they are for you.
Such is the love of a dog for their care giver. They trust you with all their heart, they live with you without any fear, they know that you are there for them when they need you.That is why when they sleep they sleep happily with no worry in this world.
Even with street dogs, they don't have any expectation from you, they are happy to have anything you give them to eat, and would be sitting outside your gate gaurding your house. Such is the loyalty of dogs.
How I wish we could be like them.
I clearly remember how each of our previous dogs died, how they struggled silently without a moan. How they patiently visited the doctor's clinic in almost a dazed state, till they were hospitalised and were released dead. Somehow as soon as they are admitted to the hospital, they give up and they rarely come back home alive.
Mostly hospitals means bad omen for them, for they are not meant for the hospitals, they are meant to stay home with the people whom they love the most.
Everytime a dog dies a hefty part of our heart dies with them, and can never be forgotten. We may foget our near and dear ones after they leave this world , but never our dogs, for they are always with us forever.
When we see Hatchiko and Marley die, they don't look like some dogs acting their part, they touch us in some very deep way.
Have you ever wondered how each dog at that particular stage acts its part so brilliantly, when actually they are different dogs of the same breed?
The first three pictures are of our first labrador : Cookie.
Unfortunately we don't have many pictures of her. She only lived for about 3 and half years.
These are pictures of the other dog: Toffee. Toffee lived with us for about 7 years, before she died of cancer.
Now we have two Labs. and they are Bumbilli and Loki:
Bumbilli is the fair and lovely one, and Loki is dark and handsome one.
Both these movies start with usual antics of a puppy, and then goes on to document each and every stage of their growing up, their naughty behaviour, there unconditional love for the owners, who sometimes get totally frustrated with their respective dog. In both the movies it is the women who get very irritated with the unmanageable traits of curious, and destructive traits of the dog
As I watched these movies again and again, I relived my days with our two dogs that came into our lives and did all the things that drove me to the brink of despair.
I would often yell at the, dog/ puppy and then within seconds, would find my heart melting when she looked at me innocently with her lovely eyes, saying,"mommy what did I do wrong", jumping as soon a she saw me melting, lickng my face happpily, and pissing on my lap with excitement.
I would feel so bad, I would hug her cuddle her and, everything would be fine till something terrible happens again.
At some point we realise that bringing up a pup is not so easy, it is just like bringing up a baby. For it will act like a baby, and for the puppy you are everything rolled into into one: a mother she/ or he can trust, a friend with whom she/ he can roll and play, and a person who can be quite strict sometimes, but who will also forgive and love him/her all over again.
Like with kids, mommy is the strict one and Papa is the one who is more lenient.
Do they love one more than the other, the answer is definitely no, for a puppy/dog, love flows unconditionally to both the care givers.
When any of them fall sick both mom and dad are worried, more the moms than the dads. All the pampering would be done by the moms.
As they grow older, we come to realise they have become very matured and well behaved. It is always a pleasure to have dogs at home. You can pour out all sorrows to them, and they would listen to you patiently, licking you, comforting you, without understanding a word. When you are happy and share some good news with them also they are very excited and happy for you, wagging their tales endlessly to show how happy they are for you.
Such is the love of a dog for their care giver. They trust you with all their heart, they live with you without any fear, they know that you are there for them when they need you.That is why when they sleep they sleep happily with no worry in this world.
Even with street dogs, they don't have any expectation from you, they are happy to have anything you give them to eat, and would be sitting outside your gate gaurding your house. Such is the loyalty of dogs.
How I wish we could be like them.
I clearly remember how each of our previous dogs died, how they struggled silently without a moan. How they patiently visited the doctor's clinic in almost a dazed state, till they were hospitalised and were released dead. Somehow as soon as they are admitted to the hospital, they give up and they rarely come back home alive.
Mostly hospitals means bad omen for them, for they are not meant for the hospitals, they are meant to stay home with the people whom they love the most.
Everytime a dog dies a hefty part of our heart dies with them, and can never be forgotten. We may foget our near and dear ones after they leave this world , but never our dogs, for they are always with us forever.
When we see Hatchiko and Marley die, they don't look like some dogs acting their part, they touch us in some very deep way.
Have you ever wondered how each dog at that particular stage acts its part so brilliantly, when actually they are different dogs of the same breed?
The first three pictures are of our first labrador : Cookie.
Unfortunately we don't have many pictures of her. She only lived for about 3 and half years.
These are pictures of the other dog: Toffee. Toffee lived with us for about 7 years, before she died of cancer.
Beautiful animals and a beautiful post. I was touched while reading it and could identify so well with many of the things you said.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago my husband and I got a puppy and like you said, I struggled so much with patience when it came to her antics. I would find myself yelling and then feeling guilty. Of course, time passed and she became much better trained but I began to take her forgranted. I loved her so much truly, she came to us at a time in our lives we needed her. Then one morning when she was just two years old, we woke up, my husband took her on a walk and she was hit by a car and killed. I remember the unexpected anguish of it. It broke my heart. Now you have inspired me to maybe write a post in her honor. :) Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
I have shared my own dog story and I hope it's ok that I have linked to your blog on my own. I just wanted to credit you with giving me the idea. :)
DeleteSure, you are most welcome. I am glad I could inspire to write about your dog.
DeleteThank you!!
DeleteA great post, dogs are such non judgmental. loving friends and you are so right, their memories stay with us, even years later they can still bring a smile to the face. Your dogs past and present are beautiful dogs who have enjoyed love!
ReplyDeleteThanks John for being able to relate to this post.
DeleteEach picture is more beautiful than the other, the dogs and their names are so unique.Unfortunately some humans take advantage of the unconditional love showered on them, though it doesnt decrease the value of that love itself.
ReplyDeleteThanks padmaja.
DeleteYour post has just touched my heart. Being a pet sitter, i could relate to each of your statement. I truly love both the movies you mentioned and each time ( i must have seen it more than 10 times) hatchiko comes on tv, i would see it till the end and cry... Its true, their love is endless and so unconditional. Loved each of the pics... all of them are adorable... You might like our page "The Woofy Tales" on facebook :)
ReplyDeleteSure, I will like it in FB. Only a dog lover can understand what it is to have dogs and lose them. Everytime we think we cannnot afford to lose one more dog, and yet from somewhere they come to us, again filling us boundless love for them all over again. It is really strange and beautiful relationship, to which nothing can be compared.
DeleteEverybody who read my post, know about our Andy who was with us for 11 years. He died around 20 years back..we still talk about him nearly everyday! We should at least have one dog in our house in our lifetime. Their love is unmatchable.
ReplyDeleteI love all your dogs, Rama! They are like our own children.
We thought that bringing up dog was difficult and so had cats at home. Many stories about them were posted in my blog. Now, we don't have any pet, since they are banned in our new complex. Miss them a lot!