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A Tender Solution for
a Touch Problem
By Lyndra L. Hearn
I adopted Presty when she was
already six years old. She is a Springer-sheltie mix and gets very excited when her mother
(I) comes home. When she gets wound up, Presty barks so
loud and frequently that it can be painful to listen to her. Shortly
after I adopted her, I began trying to help her overcome the habit
of barking with such enthusiasm at my arrival. I would
say, "Quiet," and gently hold her snout shut.
One evening, I came in the
door and Presty began to bark in her usual manner. I said, "Quiet!" She
started running around the house as if she were searching for something. A
few moments later, Presty came back in the room with one of her stuffed
toy animals in her mouth and the rest of her body swaying with
excitement.
It seems that since she couldn't
control her barking, she used her intelligence, creativity, and desire to please me to
come up with a solution. This totally warmed my heart and increased
even more my love for her.
To this day, whenever I come
home, Presty still greets me silently with a stuffed toy animal, her "baby,"
in her mouth while her whole body wags hello.
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