Last
week I was telling the story of Molly and her medical difficulties on the dog’s
Facebook page, I mentioned that she was my “Heart Dog” and I have always used
this term and have heard a few others use it too, but one person sent me a
message wanting to know what a Heart Dog was.
I pondered the question and even did a “Google” search. Usually there are thousands and thousands of
articles on any subject, but “What is a Heart Dog” was almost blank, there were
only a few mentions and one was a Blog.
I was surprised, so I sent out a message to my Facebook followers and
ask them, to explain to the best of their ability, “What is a Heart Dog”. I received many responses from all over, some
even from others countries. The most
amazing thing I discovered is most people don’t have any idea how to explain
what a “Heart Dog” is, so I will try to explain it from my point of view, with
the help from some readers.
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| Molly |
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| Molly & Clancy |
A
“Heart Dog” from a point of view of many …
“They
know when I'm sick or sad and will stay right by me, tending to me, making sure
that I'm okay. They lick away my pain and my sadness. And they cover me with
their body so to protect me from whatever it is that would dare upset me. They have that part of my heart that only
they can reach. It is one who is so
sweet and a little different from the rest and who will lick and love on you
even on his/her final day, and they at you with those big brown eyes.”
“They
start a passion in me that I did not know was even there. They awakened a new
kind of bond that I could have with a living being. She showed me what it was
like to have unconditional love and support.”
“They
were so deeply embedded in my soul, I swear she was the only living being that
'got me'....perhaps I humanized her, but communication never needed to be
conscious with her, she could read me. I believe she lived to please me....no
one else mattered to her and I even considered her in major life decisions, and
what the impact on her would be.
“A
“Heart Dog” can wiggles into your heart and becomes one with you and your
spirit. There is a special bond between you and your spirit or “Heart Dog”.
They completely understand you without words or expression. Symbiotic...one
with each other. Often times I think our “Heart Dog” comes along during a time
of emotional hardship or longing for something deeper than ourselves. They
often fill a void and the relationship grows from there.”
“A
“Heart Dog” doesn't necessarily have a bigger place in your heart, but rather
the opposite. This dog would be very sensitive, one that would wear it's
feelings on its paw. One that would go out of its way to please you, even if
that meant doing something that it didn't particularly want to do. But your
approval, praise and to see your smiling face will mean everything to this
dog. This dog's heart would be as big as
the Border Collie’s personality. This dog would have something special,
something not many people have, and that is the ability to love with all its
heart, forever and unconditionally. The “Heart Dog” dog doesn't hold a bigger
place in your heart; rather you hold a place in their heart that leaves little
room for anything else. I like others
who lose a special pet felt like there could never be another dog that could
fill that void. And well, in some ways
that is true. But the heart is not made up of percentages. One dog doesn't take
45% leaving only 55% available for the rest of your life. The heart expands and
allows others to enter in but never replace that part of your heart. Because
really you don't even have possession of it anymore. You gave it away to them. It
is theirs to take with them.”
I
loved to get the definitions but one that summed it up best was “Anyone who
really does not understand “Heart dog", probably does not have the
capacity to fully understand no matter how much explanation they receive.” I feel this is true because it means so many
different things to so many people. One
statement that came out many times, “They Saved Me” and I’m sure they did. I have a cousin that I love very much and
when Elaine and I got married 22 years ago, we had a dog that I got for the
kids, I thought they needed her but she soon became my dog. Well I fell in love with her and she was a
great dog, but Elaine didn’t particularly care for her. Once “Patches” got into the trash while I was
at work. Elaine called me and stated
that if this doesn’t stop, “you’ll have to get rid of her”. I needed to vent because I was hurt and told
the story to my cousin and she stated… “Well…you can always get another wife”
Patches stopped getting into the garbage and Elaine and I laugh about it now.
People
can have a special bond with dogs, some more than others, from a reader that
lost her dog about 6 months ago, “My
dog was everything to me. My Heart, soul
and body. I still can't get over her lost. I have to sleep with her collar
every night next to my heart. I do
believe Dogs go to Heaven. The other night I cried myself to sleep and prayed
to the Lord to give her a hug for me. I told him I was sure she was setting in
his lap. I prayed and wished I could just see and hold her
again.....well...that night was the first time I had ever dreamed of her. She
was playing and having a good time. I called her name and she came to me
running so fast. We hugged and kissed and held onto each other. I thank the
Lord that morning for letting me see her again. I honestly feel that he
answered my prayer. So I know she is in Heaven and I WILL SEE HER AGAIN SOON!”
Sometimes
we don’t realize the bond is so strong until it’s too late. Patches was a
wonderful dog and lived with Elaine and me until the end. When we worked at the Vet’s office in
Louisville (Elaine worked there too) it became time to send Patches to the
“Bridge”, we took her in and during lunch when the office was quite... We put
her on the table, I couldn’t do it, in fact, I couldn’t even be in the room and
left. Elaine was with her and watched
Patches take her last breath. I’m angry
now at myself that I left; I should have stayed in there for Patches, it was my
duty and she always stayed with me during my tough times.
A
reader sent me a tribute to their dog and ended the letter with this line…”We
had to put her to sleep and I put my nose to hers and felt her last breath on
my face and she went off to the Rainbow Bridge.”
Anyone
who really does not understand by just reading “Heart dog", probably does
not have the capacity to fully understand no matter how much explanation they
receive.
Give
your dog a hug... Ken
Shuck's
Border Collies Facebook Page
