The Pleasure of a New Puppy

A couple of good friends came over yesterday with their new puppy called Wrigley. He's a black labrador, the image of mine when he was that age.

I'd forgotten how their bursts of exuberence and energy can make you feel in touch with life. My dogs (Dooley, the black labrador who's 5 years old and Max, the rottweiler x golden retriever aged 8), were so tolerant of this tiny invader.

Wrigley tried to jump on them, play with their tails and ears and tried to challenge Max to a play fight. Max's grandfatherly side came out. He gave the assertive "No" bark when needed and tolerated the playfulness for hours. Dooley just didn't know what to make of Wrigley at all. At one point, he just wanted peace and quiet so hid himself away. Wrigley brought out characteristics in my own dogs, I hadn't seen or appreciated.

The funniest thing Wrigley did was demonstrate "instant sleep". He was charging around for ages then all of a sudden laid down and immediately went to sleep.

After having been quite ill recently, experiencing Wrigley's joy and innocence made my weekend. It showed me that sometimes I spend to much time worrying about incidentals in life such as work, stability and getting myself dragged down by the gravity of life.  He was such a star and ended up going home with lots of hand-me-downs from Dooley and Max - I'm sure they won't mind.

Life itself I guess, yields its own unique tonics in often the most unexpected or surprising sources. This might be in the form of spending time with young lives, a smile from your husband when he does not know you can see him looking at you, appreciating wild flowers, staring into a storm or feeling the warmth of the sun on your face or best of all a beautiful black labrador puppy.

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2085302918288730915

This video is so cute - my labrador Dooley and my three houserabbits "Sharing a Bean". Poor Dooley comes out worst of course.