Contact
We are based in Somerset for further info.
Please E-mail info@ruzunadobermanns.com
If you are looking for an older or a Rescue Dobermann then please follow the links below
or contact me on the above e-mail and I will see if I can help.
| DOBERMANN WELFARE |
| DOBERMANN REHOME |
The
Journey
by Crystal Ward Kent
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will
bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your
strength and courage.
If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about
yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for
one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will
learn much about savouring life's simple pleasures -jumping in leaves, snoozing
in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch
behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every
element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be
overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being
full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower except when heading home
to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught
by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal
being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details -
the colourful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag,
the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a
whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek
in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that
nature has created a marvellously complex world that is full of surprises, that
each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all
its own.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you.
You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen or noting
the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the
swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not
matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not
letting life's most important details slip by. You will find yourself doing
silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty
minutes in the grocery aisle buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the
block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow,
wrestle with chewy toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and
even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a puppy in hot
pursuit - all in the name of love. Your house will become muddier and hairier.
You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog
biscuits in your pocket or purse.
You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that
says,
"It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as
long as we are together."
Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give
another. You will not find it often among the human race (so true!).
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel
ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who
could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion.
Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not
worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway. If you pay attention and
learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but
the person your pet always knew you to be the one they were proud to call
beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of
true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day
your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you
will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is
far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really,
just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give
us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is
nothing left.
The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray.
Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we
gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they
ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we
cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole
once more.
"Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our
paths cross again.