Just Released—Canine Courage: The Heroism of Dogs,

PRWeb ^ | 12/05/2002 | Tiffin Shewmake

[groanup]

Okay. Let's here it for dogs. Post your favorite story, picture, adage, movie, etc.

[groanup]

I had a friend that rescued a female golden who was eaten up with heartworms. She is a robust healthy dog now and a very noble one at that.

[jacquej]

I am owned, heart and soul, by two wonderful Belgain Malinois, named Hanna and Shadow.

Hanna rules the house, and one small glance, or low growl toward Shadow will cause total subservience, with a bit of fearful slink, especially when choice food tidbits are involved.

But, when the crows come to call, or the hawks pass overhead, Shadow rules the yard. He will pin Hanna on the steps or near the door, telling her in spades, that her job is that of the house, the food, the care of the pups, and that he will protect her from all varmints who might threaten her, and his potential seed. (And, she screams in "terrified submission")

I love to watch the simple rules of dogs, left to their own instincts. We humans could learn so much... but, alas, we don't.

They are also very good for keeping the wierd itinerant missionary types, the summer lawn-mower job hunters, or whoever an old woman like me doesn't want to know that I am alone and, therefore, potentially vulnerable totally intimidated by the front door "Cujo" imitations. (By the way, I do have a rifle, but prefer not to have to use it!!!)

They let all strangers know, immediately, that they will have to go through teeth and claw to get to me, and I do not cut their claws.

They keep me safe from whatever nefarious ideas any "evil-doers" might be concocting. And, at night, when the thermostat has been turned down to 60 degrees to save on energy and the inevitable bills, they cuddle up to me, and keep me warm.

They truly are my best friends.

[kaylar]

It's funny to watch four (now three, sadly) tiny dogs, the heaviest of whom weighs 12 lbs, trying to be wolves. They just have no concept of size, and if there's anything sweeter or cuter than a 12 lb dog stepping between two adult humans and threatening one of them with death for getting too near "my mommy" or "my daddy" , I can't imagine it.

[afraidfortherepublic]

She is a robust healthy dog now and a very noble one at that.

What a great story. I would say "heartwarming", but it's too close to "heartworming"! :)

We were very lucky with Max. He was just rambunctious. I can't believe some of the reasons people have for giving up (or throwing away) their dogs. It is interesting that GRROW gets many more male Goldens than females -- and I just think it is because the males need just a little more discipline and training. Max was hard to handle in the beginning (I think he was younger than the 2 years that they estimated). But with basic obedience training and a lot of love, he is just an angel after a few months. He's very large and strong and would be hard for someone little to handle.

On the other hand, he never barks or whines, so he is a perfect office dog. We have to watch his chewing (he got an oriental rug the first night he was in my home) but we provide lots of things to chew and no opportunity to get at the stuff I don't want him to chew! I think that in a few years I'll be able to trust him over night on the oriental rugs. Right now he gets a synthetic machine made rug in the kitchen!

He really is a special guy. So athletic, and just a joy to watch him run.

[groanup]

"There is no person alive who can read that story and not get misty-eyed."

Many thanks for the link

[groanup]

"...an old woman like me..."

You're not older, you're better.

[tet68]

Have you seen the movie, "My dog Skip."?
If not try, it's worth it.

[groanup]

Haven't seen it yet. I'll rent it.

[kaylar]

I had to sit down and reread it....Not only is it a fine dog story, it honors the war dog. Which reminds me of a 'controversy' that never should have been.

Seems there was a drive to memorialize the war dog, and some expletive deleteds in congress said it was an insult to human vets, as the war dogs were just "government property", like tanks or rifles. Has there ever been a soldier who had that attitude towards the dogs on which his platoon depended for their safety and lives? I truly doubt it.

Anyhow, what had been suggested was placing the war dog memorial (a bronze statue of a doberman looking alert) right outside the entrance to Arlington National Cemetary. The idea was, the soldiers slept better when they knew the dogs were watching over them . The honored dead are eternally at rest...And eternally standing guard, watching over them ,is the War Dog.

I don't know if that plan was ever implemented, but who better to honor than the war dog? And where would be a better place for the statue?,

[kaylar]

And the Twilight Zone episode...Can't think of the name, you know the one..."Nah, we don't mind them pretending to be heaven...They do us a favor, by screening out people who'd betray their best friend."

[groanup]

"The honored dead are eternally at rest...And eternally standing guard, watching over them ,is the War Dog."

What a great idea. Should be mentioned to my congresscritter.

[RedWhiteBlue]

If you like watching the give and take of dogs as they deal with one another, I highly recommend the book THE HIDDEN LIFE OF DOGS.

[Birdiegirl]

Misty eyed? More like - I can't see through the ocean of tears that just poured when I read that poem (#7). I am down for the count. My favorite dog story?

Maggie & Katy. They will forever be my baby girls. Big, hairy, loveable Old English Sheepdogs.

[PatrickHenry]

Two quotes from Mark Twain:

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.

The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Belgian Malinois can be intimidating and so full of energy. I trained with one. She was half the size of my Max but I wouldn't have wanted to defy her. She is a lovely dog. On Animal Planet I learned that the Belgian Malinois are used to guard the paintings at the Louvre in France. Can't think of a better recommendation. You are a lucky lady to have two.

BTW the program (Breed All About It on Animal Planet) asked how to tell the difference between a Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd. The answer is that the German Shepherd is the one siting still! LOL.

[Flyer]

we adopted a full grown dog

I got both of my Goldens as adults. I have just one of them now, my handsome man dog Gilligan. . .

---

[groanup]

So true.

[groanup]

I don't have a picture to post of my golden but you just posted his clone. Thanks.

[afraidfortherepublic]

... in the blink of an eye my grandfather's two bird dogs jumped up on the table and devoured both cakes.

LOL. Reminds me of the time I was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. We challenged another Den to a mini track meet and met them at the local high school track. I had brought a huge box of donuts to enjoy after the meet. The boys were running their races and doing their braod jumps, etc. when I looked over to see a big, wandering dog playing with an empty box -- whipping it up into the air and shaking it around. Another den mother & I were laughing until it suddenly dawned on us that the box was the last of our donuts!

I had to make a quick bakery run before the boys finished their races, or I would have had some disappointed kids.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Handsome!