Well, we reconciliated. Yep, we are one big happy twosome again.
It was tough there for a while. She would not look me in the eye, I did not know what to say or do around her.
We just sat there until one of us acted. And, me being the authoritarian of our relationship, initiated the change. I don’t want to take all the credit because she helped too.
As I sat on the couch watching “The Simpsons,” occasionally looking at her, meeting glassy eyes and a swift turn of the head away, I thought, ah-hah, I got it! Food, why did I not think of it earlier?
So I hopped in my car, drove to the store and picked out two of driest, most flavorful pigs ears I could find. Man, was that the answer.
I arrived home to the same dejected, bitter little dog, but once the sight and smell of those succulent lobes hit Lou’s senses a different dog manifested herself in front of my eyes. Who would have thought, food?
I scolded her, I caged her, and I even hit the little. But after all that anger, all that spite, a pig is what finally brought us together.
As I watched her chew, gnaw, and roll on the ground with that ear between her jaws I knew something was different. And when she looked up afterward with what I was sure was a smile, it was confirmed.
No longer does she look at me with piercing eyes, but with pupils revealing the happy soul within. Let me tell you a good disposition has made a world of difference. I have been able to work with her on other things as well.
Education for instance. Instead of using all that energy and time carrying out acts of violence with a “righteous” hand, I have it channeled into patience.
You see patience comes in handy when you are trying to teach your dog how to roll over or shake hands.
Day after day, I took her outside and worked with her. She, of course, did not want to listen to me, most people don’t so why would I expect a dog to? But as she regained trust I was able to teach her things that once seemed hopeless.
The dog sits on command, actually knows what the word no means, and finds rest at my feet.
And yes it did take some bribery at first but she is becoming less dependent on those treats as rewards for good behavior.
And yes she still bites and gnaws occasionally but my hands have healed as well as my eye, ear, lip, elbow, and knee; but the difference now is seen not in a strike of vengeance but in a collection of thoughts and a less violent retribution such as stern words.
She is learning, as well am I, how to live with one another. I had never known a dog like Lou before, so when our start was rocky I did not know what to do.
Lou is my dog. She is part of my family, a part of who I am. I could not imagine striking her with rage as I once did believing it was the solution to the problem.
Patience is what fostered thought for a brighter future, and the thought that manifested itself might not be the complete answer but it was a peaceful start.
I was afraid and confused but a path has begun to show and I will walk it with her just as long as she uses the grass to the left of it to do her “business.”
But there was always hope for a better relationship and it just took a little thought to work around violence. I don’t know, maybe there is hope for Afghanistan.
Jason Cooper, a senior photojournalism major, is photography editor of the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at cooperj@ulv.edu.
