When I come home, Roman is always happy to see me. His tail wags enthusiastically as if we have been apart months instead of hours. Sometimes his entire body bends in the middle as if to emphasize his silent greeting. No matter my mood, no matter how good or tough the day has been, the Dog is steadfast in his acceptance of our pack, and in his joy at my return. Writers with much better vocabulary have penned some thoughtful reflections which I wish to share.
The dog is the only animal that is capable of disinterested affection. He is the only creature that regards the human being in his compassion, and follows him as his friend; the only one that seems to possess a natural desire to be useful to him, or from a spontaneous impulse attaches himself to man. We take the bridle from the mouth of the horse, and turn him free into the pasture, and he testifies his joy in his partially recovered liberty. We exact from the dog the service that is required of him, and still he follows us. He solicits to be continued as our companion and our friend. Many an expressive action tells us how much he is pleased and thankful. He shares in our abundance, and he is content with the scantiest and most humble fare. He loves us while living, and has been known to pine away on the grave of his master.
- William Youatt, from The Dog, 1845
Calm though not mean, courageous without rage,
Serious not dull, and without thinking sage;
Pleas’d at the lot that Nature has assign’d.
Snarl as I list, and freely bark my mind;
As churchman wrangle not with jarring spite,
Nor statesman-like caressing whom I bite;
View all the canine kind with equal eyes,
I dread no mastiff, and no cur despise;
True from the first, and faithful to the end.
My days and nights one equal tenour keep.
Fast but to eat, and only wake to sleep;
Thus stealing along life I live incog,
A very plain and downright honest dog.
- William Hamilton, 18th century from On a Dog
The dog is the only animal that is capable of disinterested affection. He is the only creature that regards the human being in his compassion, and follows him as his friend; the only one that seems to possess a natural desire to be useful to him, or from a spontaneous impulse attaches himself to man. We take the bridle from the mouth of the horse, and turn him free into the pasture, and he testifies his joy in his partially recovered liberty. We exact from the dog the service that is required of him, and still he follows us. He solicits to be continued as our companion and our friend. Many an expressive action tells us how much he is pleased and thankful. He shares in our abundance, and he is content with the scantiest and most humble fare. He loves us while living, and has been known to pine away on the grave of his master.
- William Youatt, from The Dog, 1845
Calm though not mean, courageous without rage,
Serious not dull, and without thinking sage;
Pleas’d at the lot that Nature has assign’d.
Snarl as I list, and freely bark my mind;
As churchman wrangle not with jarring spite,
Nor statesman-like caressing whom I bite;
View all the canine kind with equal eyes,
I dread no mastiff, and no cur despise;
True from the first, and faithful to the end.
My days and nights one equal tenour keep.
Fast but to eat, and only wake to sleep;
Thus stealing along life I live incog,
A very plain and downright honest dog.
- William Hamilton, 18th century from On a Dog
