The Perfect Dog

No, it's not Ashley. Not that we don't love our dog. She's endured more than one wobbly toddler falling on her and she's never even looked annoyed about it. She's guarded our babies and played with them as they've grown. John more or less dotes on her. And don't even get me started on what happens when Grandma comes over!!


But as much as we love Ashley, she's not the perfect dog. THIS is the perfect dog:


Isn't he cute? Now, this is our neighbor's dog (thus the fence). We've watched him grow from a tiny puppy to the adolescent cutie you see before you. I think his face is absolutely adorable and I love that fact that his fur is still as soft as it was when he was a puppy. Whenever I come outside to water the roses (and now the resurrected grapes) this dog comes running. He's wagging and jumping and oh so happy to see me!

So naturally I talk to him and give him some scratches through the fence. Gee, that sounds a lot more subdued than it is. I don't want to say that I become a gushing idiot, so let's just say I'm as happy to see him as he is to see me.

Now, let's get back to the fence. It does make it hard for me to properly pet this sweet little dog, but the fence is EXACTLY what makes him the perfect dog. Unlike his owners, I don't have to feed him, pick up after him, or deal with the fact that his little puppy teeth have done their fair share of damage to their possessions.

All I ever have to do is enjoy the fact that he loves me and is happy to see me, while I ooh and ahh till I've had enough. Then I go inside (wash my hands!) and forget about it until the next day.

Like I said, the perfect dog.