October 10, 2020

 White Dog reminded me that lasting progress comes in tiny steps sometimes hidden until you think about it.

Chaco, the Malamute who lives across the street, has people who are not the most caring interactive pawrents. Often he is left gated on their very short front walk for hours and sends up lonely cries for attention. Chaco is a big boy with a BOOMING voice. In the past Chaco's wails have sent Roman from wherever he was to the windows to bark and snarl challenges in hopes of scaring off the interloper. We have gently worked at calling Roman away from the windows and reassuring him that he...and all of us ...are safe. We have stressed that Chaco deserves Roman's sympathy, not anger. The method works but must be repeated every time Chaco is out.   

Tonight we had gone back to work in the far side of the house when Chaco's song whined loud and clear throughout the neighborhood. Roman was in the bedroom supervising me at my computer. His ears twitched forward and he blew air through his mouth. He paced to the bedroom door and then stopped and looked over his shoulder. I glanced at him, smiled,  then dropped my hand downward to indicate that he should come and sit with me.

Without the need to be coaxed or convinced, my boy came over and laid on top of my foot. He snuggled in and totally ignored the Chaco song which went on for quite some time. Eventually Roman napped peacefully. I peeked down at him and tried not to move my foot; "Good job, Baby Boy! VERY good job!" I whispered.