In the Company of Dog

I live surrounded by dogs. Anywhere from four to six dogs reside in my home at any given time. Sometimes it even jumps to seven in the case of an emergency. But how did it all start?
I look back to pictures and stories my mother told me. From infancy I was with at least one dog. Chancy was my first dog experience. She would sleep in my crib with me. She allowed me lean on her as I learned how to walk. And she was not afraid to snap or bark at me when I hurt her. I learned early on what was and was not ok to do to her. She was an excellent influence on my. My mother also did not coddle either of us. If Chancy snapped at me she would know I did something wrong, not her.
During the rest of my childhood, there were always German Shepherds in the house. My mother ran a tight ship and the dogs thrived on this. Things were always calm and balanced and even when life wasn’t, the dogs pushed through the stresses just fine.
Its these same lessons that continue for my dogs today.

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