Persistence

Ok confession... I am one of those annoying people who doesn't have kids but loves their dog like a baby and likes to share cute stories about her.  And really, I did not need to confess that, since you would all soon find out that I am that person after reading this post.  Anyway, this post is not only about my dog, but also about my dad.


I grew up always wanting a little dog.  My family was blessed with the world's best dog, Tennessee when I was in third grade but it just wasn't the same.  I needed my OWN, SMALL dog.  I begged and begged.  My parents always told me no.  Finally, after my first year of college they caved.  We started searching for a dog and my uncle actually found her for us.  The night I picked her up she was a demon.  Seriously.  The devil.  She snarled and growled and barked and shrieked at me.  I was advised to give her treats and after handing her a couple successfully, she decided I was getting to close and bit me hard on the hand.  I was distraught but we took her home anyway.  All I kept thinking was "My dad is going to hate this dog!".  Not only did she bark at anyone who came to the door, she barked at all of us unless we were sitting down and petting her with our feet.  A little background on my dad:  he hates barking dogs!  So...after a few days I was preparing for the news from my parents that she had to go.  But it never came.  I mentioned it to my mom a few weeks later and she said "He does not like the barking.  But he knows you love the dog and wants you to be happy."


Fast forward 1.5 years.  I still have the dog but she lives with me now in my apartment.  She is the sweetest thing and the joy of my life.  (Yes, joy)  I visit my parents a lot to do laundry and eat their food and this is what happens when I arrive in their home.  I walk in, set down my bag, sit in the recliner, sometimes receiving a short "hey" from a family member.  Then, in trots Izzy and I hear a squeal and "IZZY!  Oh my little sweetheart!  You little angel!  Did you come to visit grandma and grandpa?" said in babytalk.  They can seriously hear her breathing from across the house and come running.  When my dad walks in the room Izzy jumps up and down licking his pants and smiling. (Yes, she smiles).  She scratches on the door when he is in his room and cries til he lets her in so she can snuggle in his bed.   Seriously people, she loves my dad.  How did this all happen you ask?


After having this dog for about a year I began asking that same question.  Izzy does not do well with strangers, and it has taken a year and a half for her to warm up to many of my family members.  So why did she warm up to him?  I found the answer one night when I was chatting with my mom in her bedroom.  There on my dad's nightstand was a ziplock bag full of dog treats.  When I asked her about it she said "Oh yeah, he gives those to Izzy at night".  I also found that he sometimes carried them in his suit pocket so he was always prepared.  I caught him numerous times sitting on the kitchen floor talking to her in babytalk as he fed her Life cereal or Cheerios.  :)  All to make a little yappy dog like him.  That is dedication!


They are best pals now.  Izzy recognizes his footsteps and is thrilled when he comes home.  She sits at his feet for hours as he works on the computer, and when he is out of town she will find a pair of his shoes to lay on.  Hopefully when I have children they will have a close bond with my dad like my dog does :)