Dogs bring about positivity in our lives. I’ve known that since I was a child. I grew up in a household where I pretty much always had dogs around me.
Higher studies & then living alone put a pause to that but my fondness for dogs never diminished. Bringing home a dog was always on my mind & a frequent conversation in my home.
When COVID struck & when a friend couple had a litter in their house, we knew it was a sign from God. And thus, came Fluffy into our lives!
Playing with a dog as a child vs. caring for it as an adult couldn’t be more diametrically opposite. When we brought Fluffy home, I’d not thought I would get so many opportunities to introspect and to realise facets about myself.
Am I a good human being?
I used to think I was patient. I didn’t get aggrieved easily. In fact, I used to think I’m a great human being.
After I got Fluffy, my self-assessment came crashing down. I realised my patience was limited to adults. I expected too much, too soon from Fluffy. & When she didn’t meet those expectations, I got angry.
My belief of being a good human being crumbled. There were days when I sobbed at this loss of identity. & Every single day, I prayed for more patience.
With time, I got better or, maybe, Fluffy rose to the challenge.
Be Smart!
It’s uncanny how Fluffy understands everything that we say. EVERYTHING! It’s like having a human being in a puppy’s disguise.
If we tell Fluffy, “Bring your toy from the middle room”, that’s exactly what she does.
Initially, I was unsure if Fluffy would be able to learn any tricks. But now she knows hello, high five, fist bump, down, roll over, play dead, give me five, jump & turn.
Fluffy doesn’t pee/ poo in the house. & to think, all of this is without any formal training.
Fluffy knows when to hide to escape from eating her meals. She also knows that if N or I are scolding her, the person who can save her is my dad.
Be You!
Fluffy doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. We may call her heavy, annoying, ‘chaalu’, toothy, jungli, anything… she DOESN’T care!
Fluffy knows what she is & she is mighty proud of that. She also knows she’s a fan following. & She uses that to the max to get belly rubs.
Discipline Is Important
Before Fluffy, N & I had a haphazard life. No fixed time for eating, sleeping, waking up etc. She changed all of that for us.
Now, our routine is tied to Fluffy’s. & She doesn’t take kindly to indiscipline. Come hell or high water, Fluffy must go for her walks.
Irrespective of how deeply immersed we are in our work, if it’s Fluffy’s playtime, she’s to play. If she wants her belly rubs, then even God Herself can’t make our palms do anything else.
& No matter wherever we’re, Fluffy’s routine follows clockwork precision!
Love Is Love
Fluffy loves me irrespective of what I look like, what I say, what I do or how I behave. There are days when I’m grumpy & end up getting annoyed with her.
But Fluffy is the one who comes & makes up. And it doesn’t even take her minutes to do so.
Fluffy loves everyone equally regardless of appearance, breed or colour, dogs & humans alike. She doesn’t have any agenda. She just loves!
Fluffy wags her tail even if the person in front is uninterested in her.
I really wish I could be so unbiased. Really wish I could judge less… Wish I could remove the filters with which I tend to see people!
Perseverance Pays
In Fluffy’s initial days, we tried hard to make her sleep in HER bed. She’d a different idea. She wanted to sleep in OUR bed. & she left no stone unturned to get what she wanted.
Fluffy was a tiny little thing but kept trying to jump onto our bed. Her head kept crashing in the wooden sideboard, but she wouldn’t give up.
If Fluffy got tired, she would take a break but resume soon. You know, like Banksy said,
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”
– Banksy
Call it perseverance or stubbornness, bottom line is that Fluffy gets what she sets her mind to. If you want your sales targets met, you may consider hiring her!
Spread Glee
Fluffy has a calming & gay effect on me. If I’m upset about something, I just need to pet her or play with her to bring myself to good humour.
Fluffy doesn’t let anything affect her mood for long. She throws tantrums, spoils things, chews socks & refuses to listen.
While all of this may exasperate me at times, I’m also sometimes in splits with Fluffy’s antics.
Fluffy is a great mediator. She does not take arguments kindly. She shows her displeasure by growling. In a world where people enjoy pitting one against other, she’s a breath of fresh air.
Fluffy truly lives in the moment. She forgives & forgets. I wish I could seek happiness in small things like her.
I wish I could be as unbothered about what may happen tomorrow as Fluffy is.
Protect Those You Love
Even with her small size, Fluffy packs a punch. It takes the slightest noise from outside the door for her to become alert & start growling.
I don’t have to worry about any intruder!
The first six months of Fluffy coming home were tough. I’m fiercely protective of my independence & I saw that slipping out of my hands.
But now, I can’t imagine my life without Fluffy. I still value my independence & get away for me – time every now & then.
But I always want to return home to that wagging tail!
