Monica Knits

Not only do you learn lots about your own habits from living with dogs, but dogs can also teach you lessons about fitting in and getting along with people. When Shaq first came to us, he was a tad compulsive about finishing every last morsel of food immediately. He has now been with us for almost 2 years and a couple of weeks ago he developed the most endearing new habit. He began waiting for us to sit down at the kitchen table and start eating before eating his own food! This requires patient observation of the two footed family members, and sometimes a few hints directed at the people. Sometimes a person sits at the table and knits instead of eating! Read more...

This morning, for example, I sipped a cup of tea and knitted while waiting for my oatmeal to cook. Not only does oatmeal take longer to prepare than cold cereal, but Shaq recognizes that tea is not a meal. He kept waiting for me to get my cereal bowl and kept wandering back to his full bowl, and looking up to me as if to say, "Don't you know it's meal time. What are you waiting for?" Dogs love routine and mine shifted by an hour today, but Shaq adapted to this change in routine though he didn't have to. Now that is a charming gentleman, just like his namesake. He's a keeper!