In our family everyone knows that Dexter loves us all, but we all agree he loves me best. Beyond me there is no descending order and the boys seem to take it in stride. It’s not uncommon for him to drape himself across my lap, his long legs hanging almost to the floor as I scratch his chin or rub his ears. Bill says this impossible behavior is my own fault as I held him there as a puppy while I worked. It’s comic and endearing and I love him.
When we were away we had a lovely young woman, beautiful and smart and nice – an amazing combination – watch him while we were gone. Coincidentally, her mother was vacationing in the same town that we were and we ran into her one afternoon.
“Oh, it’s so funny. Ellie just sent me a picture of Dexter with his head on her shoulder. She thinks he’s a riot.”
Everyone chuckled, including me, but my heart was in my throat. His head was on her shoulder? I was instantly struck that it is not me to whom he is so devoted, but anyone, it seems, who scratches behind his ear. Or coos his name. Or, worse, feeds him.
Jealous and indignant, I swore things would never be the same between us. Oh, we could be friends, it would be fine, we are both grown-ups after all (technically he’s two, or fourteen depending on how you look at it, but in his world he’s an adult plain and simple), but it would not be like before. I could never trust him again, not now that I knew he had so easily transferred his affections to another.
When we arrived home he skipped and pranced as always. I was aloof. He danced around me his big paws stepping on my feet, his nose nudging my hand.
The next morning when I awoke he was on the bed (where he is not supposed to be) and through the down of the comforter I could feel his chin resting on my leg. I opened my eyes and found him looking at me from upraised brows. I reached down and pulled his silky ear through my fingers. He rolled over on his back so I could scratch under his chin, knowing all was forgiven.
Our lovely dog sitter is Jennifer.
It just kills me when I see Edward sitting beside her getting his ears scratched with a blissful expression on his face.
However, she enables me to travel with a somewhat clear conscience, so I must live with it.
xo
Dexter missed you so much he just had to latch onto someone!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karen
I love this story! What a lovely creature.
Ahhhhhh… He does love you best. Nothing like our boys with their heads on our feet.
Glad you had a good time.
Mary
Lovely post; beautifully written and……I've felt your pain!
A DOR A BLE.he is obviously a rake-so taken with the feminine form-shoulders,legs…he just can not help himself, but of course with you it is different… pgt
The only way to know is to see who he follows when you're both around…. Better not though. We all feel this, but who would want a grudging unaccepting dog that didn't love everyone?
Lover bad boys with brown eyes. Some things never change. He had you at the upraised brows and the knowing look of "I may flirt with others, but are my only."
When we first left our schnauzer (my dog—she who feeds wins—of course), he gave me the cold shoulder. Really. He'd look at me and do the 180 with his neck. He lasted through one feeding and came back with tail wagging!
Miss your beautiful poetic writing. He loves you best, and was just being "hospitable".lol
-linda,ny
Just as it should be! Sweet story, thanks.
An other of your gemlike beautiful stories, and it shows how important dogs are to us. Dexter is a star and so are you.
Whether one is gone 5 minutes or 5 days, dogs are always happy to see you. No matter how bad my day has been, I know that there is a little person who is just thrilled to have me back home:) Great story!