Robin the Newf was often my blogging companion. She was a kind, patient, loving gentle giant, with an all-knowing gaze. Because of her presence (at my feet) I would often ruminate about canine companions. My father-in-law, Walter G. Schmidt, also loved dogs. His love of dogs was extolled in his eulogy given by the Reverend Charles Valenti-Heine:
…”And that world, for Walter, included his beloved Canines. Lucy, Canis, Oaf, Chaucer, Trollope, and Freud, the last named because Walter was told that the companionship of a good dog was of greater worth to people than any other therapy! The one time I remember Walter speaking in church was when Trollope died, and he stood up during joys and concerns to opine: ‘If there is a place in heaven for Presbyterians, then surely there is a place for greyhounds.’
To which I add, amen!
Rudyard Kipling warned us of how dogs can capture your heart!
Do dogs match their owners in physical appearance? Perhaps.
Here is some anecdotal evidence provided by one of my playful students that owners like me (though there is a debate between Robin and me as to who is the owner) may start looking like their dogs!
in personality? There is an interesting body of research dealing with these questions. Under what circumstances does pet ownership reduce stress? increase it? Why in the world did I recently spend $250 tonight on pet treats? Perhaps I still am affected by my first reading of Argos‘ blind enduring faith.
