What is a good dog?
By Tara & Brendon Orr
Amelia
October 21, 2010 What is a good dog? Most people’s perception of a good dog is defined based on what we watch growing up. Mental images of a Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, or the like, heavily influence our desires and expectations for an obedient, well-behaved, exemplary dog that never misbehaves. In reality, most dog owners can tell you that such a dog is either very rare or simply doesn’t exist, at least not without plenty of training and work. However, what I am sure most dog owners will also tell you is that what constitutes a good dog is highly subjective and is very dependent on what one looks for in a prospective canine. My wife, Tara and I had a pretty good idea of what we wanted in a dog, i.e., a pooch that was athletic, playful, affectionate, good with other animals, and one that enjoyed running and other physical activities. So it was that we started looking for a dog in May 2010, with the hope that we could find a dog that matched our criteria.
Amelia
We knew we wanted to look into adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue. Being textbook animal lovers, it meant a lot to us to help an animal in need. Little did we know that in turn, we would be rewarded with a dog that enriched our lives and blew our definition of what constitutes a good dog right out of the water.
We remember adopting Amelia from Black Dog Animal Rescue (BDAR) and how excited we were at the prospect of such a great match. Here was a young, energetic, playful, and athletic little puppy that wanted a home where she could play, jump, run, and cuddle. In providing that for her, she in turn has brought a level of joy to our lives that we could have only hoped for.
They say that the amount of material possessions or wealth that you have doesn’t matter, but if you have a dog, you are truly rich. This couldn’t be any more true and we have Amelia to thank for this. When we take her for runs and/or walks in the morning, afternoon, and evening, we find ourselves with the gift of some downtime to reflect on the simple yet meaningful things in our lives. We are afforded an opportunity to let any stress evaporate from our body and minds and just focus on the sights, smells, and sounds of our environment as we go exploring with Amelia. She has been a good teacher in helping us live in the moment, a moment that brings us closer together as a couple and a family. We also find that it has become downright impossible to not be touched by Amelia’s goofy and playful personality or her dedication and loyalty to us.
Amelia
Since we adopted Amelia, we have shared a variety of fun experiences such as camping, hiking, rafting, road trips, and she has also run a few races with us including a half-marathon in June. She is true in personality to her breed mix of American Pit Bull Terrier and Border Collie, i.e., she loves to run, chase, and play with us and other animals, loves to cuddle with us in bed or on the couch, and is astonishingly loyal and respectful to us and the other animals in our household (one cat and two ferrets). She is eager to please and has mastered sit, stay, down, and shake. She has also made remarkable strides in her leash training, which of course, makes taking her for runs and walks more enjoyable. She is a total goofball and is prone to some head-scratching antics on occasion, not to mention that if a squirrel or rabbit should ever come across her field of vision, she instantly ceases to care about anything else. But after all, this is what contributes to her colorful personality and we wouldn’t have her any other way. She is leaps and bounds above the dog that we could have hoped for and a testament to the tangible bond between man (or woman) and dog. She is worth the time and energy that we put into her and she pays us back in spades. Amelia is so much more than a good dog. She is our companion, our family member, our friend—and we are members of her pack.
