Our dog-obedience teacher would have a fit if she saw the picture below. She'd say Cody is dominating me, pinning me down in the chair. She'd also be horrified that his head is almost as high as mine, and if he put his paws up on the chair arms and stood up, it would be higher and he would see himself as doubly dominant.
But my husband and I broke the rules yesterday, because our daughter Sherry had just lost her dear dog in a terrible accident. She asked that April 15 be a serendipitous treat day for all the dogs of her friends and loved ones in honor of her devoted black lab Belle. Belle had been attacked by two neighborhood pit-bulls the day before, and the vet hadn't been able to save her. Sherry asked readers of her blog (http://civpro.blogs.com/civil_procedure/) to take their dogs out for ice cream, posting a picture of our dogs' enjoyment to cheer her up.
The ice-cream stand near us isn't yet open for the summer season, so we improvised this treat instead: Cody getting to be a lap-dog. He truly enjoyed it, as you can see here, although I'm a bit tentative as he leans his sixty-pounds into my chest. Our teacher would call it domination, but I see it as a dog's only way to hug. Being armless, they have to lean against us, usually our legs. But Cody can't believe his good fortune here when he feels a heart and breath beneath his lean, and he's lulled by it, sitting stock still to savor it, until he slowly slips down my front to sleep.
Oh, Mary Lee, what a bittersweet post! My heart goes out to your daughter (and I will visit her blog) What a horrific thing to have happen! I am so terribly sorry for her loss.
I have to say...Cody is one of THEE best looking dogs I've ever seen! His face has such sweet expression. And I don't think it's about "dominance" at all...I believe it's what you said. He's simply hugging you and the look of gratitude and happiness on his face says it all. You sure do have a great dog there! Enjoy him, as I know you do.
Posted by: Terri | April 17, 2006 at 07:29 AM
Hi Mary Lee.....I don't know which one looks more contented, you or Cody.
Nice picture.
Posted by: Chancy | April 17, 2006 at 10:09 AM
Lovely pic of you two
Posted by: Claude | April 17, 2006 at 01:46 PM
Wonderful picture of the two of you, ML. What a sad story about your daughter's dog. I keep reading things like this in the papers about pit bulls. Is this a problem inherent in the breed, or a breeding problem or...
Posted by: Ronni BEnnett | April 19, 2006 at 02:38 PM
What a sweetie! Looks like he has grown. Scratch his ears for me. I am sorry for your daughter, this is a tough thing to get through.
Posted by: Tabor | April 19, 2006 at 02:43 PM
Oh--- My heart goes out so much to Sherry----of course because I am a dog lover to the MAX, but also because our black Lab--Java--- is such a sweetheart and I could not live now without a black lab!! Of course our German Shepherd is equally loving! I am SOOOOOOO glad to see that Cody has endeared himself to you and can be a LAP DOG sometimes!! Just like kids-we have to let them be who they are without rules once in a while!
Posted by: Rolinda | April 24, 2006 at 10:31 AM