The Art of Human Training

Dixie is my Shih Tzu—my best friend. You can read her chronicles here, where I share as closing thoughts my reflections on friendship through a story seen from her eyes.

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To the untrained eye, I am a small, adorable Shih Tzu. But to my human—let’s call him Dad—I am the Sun, the Moon, and the CEO of this household.

People say dogs are man's best friend. This is true. But what they don’t tell you is that we are also excellent managers. My Dad is a cool guy. He wears sunglasses, he has cool tattoos, and he drives us to nice places. But sometimes, he needs guidance.

Take last Tuesday, for example.

Dad decided we were going to the beach. He packed the car, put on his shades, and grabbed a bright, colorful frisbee. Now, look at me. Do I look like a Greyhound? Do I look like I have the aerodynamic properties of a missile? No. I am a glorious cloud of fluff designed for snuggling and receiving treats.

We got to the sand (which, for the record, gets everywhere). Dad knelt down, holding me with that look of pure love he always has.

"Okay, Dixie!" he said, waving the plastic disk. "Ready to play?"

I looked at the frisbee. Then I looked at him. Then I employed my secret weapon: The Communication Stare.

It’s a subtle art. I don’t bark; that’s for amateurs. I simply widened my eyes—those eyes he says are full of "love and peace"—and projected a single thought into his brain: “Father, where is The Bear?”

You see, the frisbee is hard and plastic. My Teddy Bear is soft, compliant, and smells like victory.

Dad paused. He lowered the frisbee. "You... you don’t want to run, do you?"

I tapped his arm with one paw. Message received.

"You want to just carry you around and then go home to the Teddy Bear?"

I licked his nose. Now you’re getting it.

So, we compromised. He carried me around the beach like the royalty I am. We didn't play frisbee, but we did sit in the autumn leaves later that afternoon, just enjoying the silence.

That is the beauty of our loyalty. He gives me a home, scratches behind my ears, and carries me when my legs get tired. 

And in return? 

I give him my heart, my peace, and the privilege of watching me chew on my Teddy Bear for hours.

It’s a pretty fair trade, if you ask me.