(Introduction: Dogs have a unique way of touching our hearts. In this heartwarming dog story, I share glimpses of my daily adventures with Sparky—his playful antics, curious habits, and the valuable life lessons he’s taught me about love and trust.)
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers
Do you remember Sparky? Yes, you met him in one of my previous articles. From that story, you learned that I was a reluctant dog owner, keeping my distance from Sparky to avoid his hugs and kisses. But last November, when my husband went back to China to visit his parents, I was put on duty of taking care of Sparky. You might wonder how we’ve been getting along. Let me share a glimpse with you.
Every morning, when I get downstairs, Sparky is always there to greet me. Then he leads me to the kitchen before I can do anything else. I suppose he knows how to take the initiative! Eating is his favorite time. With each scoop of food I put on his plate, he raises his front paws, as if to say, “Great! Thank you!” Then he buries his head in the food, gobbling it up in no time.
Sparky likes to follow me in the kitchen. When I’m preparing meals, he quietly sits beside me, patiently waiting for something to fall. This morning, I accidentally knocked an egg off the counter, and Sparky did not miss his good fortune and swiped it right away. He has another secret weapon to satisfy his appetite: whenever I eat something, he gives me a look that seems to say, “Come on, I know you’ll share.” Guess what? He never fails.
After driving my son to school each day, the first thing I do is walk Sparky. As soon as we’re outside, he starts sniffing around: there are some logistics he has to run first. I watch him walk back and forth in the same area until he finally settles on a spot to do his business.
On snowy days, Sparky is full of energy. Running in the snow is so much fun for him! He can simply swallow some snow if he gets thirsty. He loves pushing his nose deep into the snow, then pulling it out quickly, making it scatter in the air. But that’s not all. He’ll roll on his back, paddling his paws as if he is doing backstroke swimming in the snow. He enjoys this trick so much that he repeats it over and over. Watching him, I’m amused: what a free, content soul he is!
Most days, we follow the trail to the woods, where there’s so much to explore. Sparky sniffs around as if searching for a hidden treasure. Sometimes a squirrel dashed across the road, and Sparky pushed forward to chase it. I had to use all my strength to pull him back. But nothing compares to the excitement when he runs into his friends. The interactions can be so “fierce” that I have to let go of his leash.
That said, Sparky also enjoys quiet moments. As we walk in the woods, he sometimes suddenly stops, sitting with his ears pricked up. The woods are so quiet, and I wonder what he’s listening to—maybe the whisper of the wind or the sound of a leaf falling?. In those moments, Sparky seems to be in a world of his own, one that I can’t quite reach. I can only stand by and admire him.
Sparky is a good dog—gentle and friendly—but there are times he frustrates me. For example, when we return from outside, I ask him to stay in the entrance while I go get a cloth to wipe his paws. Sometimes he totally ignores me. “No, Sparky!” I shout. “I’m going to punish you! No snack for you!” But as I pour my anger on him, he looks at me with such innocence, like a baby. How can I punish a baby? My anger melts away, and before I know it, I’ve forgiven him.
You see, dogs have a special way of winning our hearts. They love us, trust us, and cheer us up unconditionally. They never hold grudges and will forgive us, even when we’re mean. That’s why dogs and humans are forever friends.
When I look at the human world, I see conflicts and wars fueled by animosity and distrust. I can’t help but think: if only we humans could embrace the power of unconditional love and trust, the world would surely be more peaceful.
This has been one of the greatest life lessons I have learned from my furry friend recently. So, I want to say: “Thank you, Sparky!”
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