Live like you were dying

My dog, Stacy, is quite the little drama queen. I believe I've mentioned the fact that she detests rain, but lately she seems to have hit a level of over-exaggeration that even I have not yet attained. She likes to express how bored or lonely she is by flopping down to the floor and letting out a sigh, as if to indicate that she is resigning herself to the sad fact that no one really loves her or they would be playing with her.

The other day, we hit a semi-usual conundrum. She loves walks. Needs exercise, needs to go to the bathroom, and likes sniffing and seeing new things. She hates rain. Her hatred of rain always seems to outweigh her love of walks. I went to the mudroom to get her leash. It was raining outside. She probably heard it, but I'm not sure.

Usually, when I walk towards her leash, she begins to spin enthusiastically and wriggle with joy so much that I'm worried she may come loose from her skin. However, she merely lifted her head, stood up, took a few steps towards me, and looked at me with her head in the "I've done something bad and I know it" position.

I called her name. She walked a few steps forward, until she was at the edge between the dining room and the kitchen. I called her name again and wiggled the leash at her. She sat. Perhaps if I sit, she'll know I'm a good dog and I won't get wet. Unfortunately, I did not share this thought. I called her name again in my "I'm a stern mommy and I'm the alpha of this pack so get over here RIGHT NOW" voice.

She walked slowly towards me, and her expression and demeanor suggested that I was taking her outside so that I could skin her alive and leave her dying in the rain. We walked for less than a block before she had done her business. She turned around and pulled in the direction of home. I gave in. You would have thought she had just been told that she was in fact, not dying of cancer, and actually would live a long and joy-filled life.

My dog's complete aversion to the rain seems rather sad to me. Not sad in an unhappy way, just sad in a pathetic sort of way. She's part lab (or so we think) so it really seems strange.

Either way, I think she has some sort of problem with emotions that causes her to feel everything more intensely than anyone could even imagine.

Now I must be off to drag her around the block. It's raining. This should be fun.

Cheers,

-T.A.D.