Ignited’s Shaken’ not Stirred! (a.k.a. “Hurricane Hunter”) displays the ribbons won competing in National Association of Canine Scentwork trials. (Photos by her proud mother.)
In other dog-related news, walking Mindy the Crippler the other day we encountered a woman with a 12-year-old standard poodle. Responding to an observation that the poodle, playing with Mindy, seemed to be in good shape, the woman said “I hope that she stays in good health for many more years. She is the center of my life.” So that Mindy’s self-esteem isn’t wounded, we’re training the kids to say “Mindy, you are the center of our life.”
People nowadays seem over invested in their pets. The average lifespan of a standard poodle is 12 years. Maybe if that woman is lucky it will last another year or two but probably not beyond that. If she has constructed her whole life around that dog, she is making a big mistake.
Conversely, I once heard a call in show with a dog expert and a man called in to say he was concerned that his dog would be devastated if he died. The expert said, “give me a pound of liver and your dog will forget that you ever lived.”
If you have a dog that can take photographs, I’d say it’s already at the center of your life.
E.g., the caption under the photos states the “photos were taken by her proud mother”.
I have an incontinent emotional support hyena named Melvin that is the center of my life.