He Wears This Look Well!

  Early this afternoon, something happened that brightened my day tremendously.  The old dog, Mr. PJ, has been feeling poorly for some time now and has done little more than nap.  His days were spent dozing in front of the french doors without much energy to do otherwise.  This was not good.  His physical self was going downhill rapidly as was his spunk. As Mom would have said "His get up and go has got up and went." Even though I tried to interest him in hikes, he always headed back to the house and his bed.  That all changed thanks to a total stranger.

  About 3pm, I heard a loud knocking on the french doors right next to where Mr. PJ was napping on his bed.  Then...then a ferocious barking came from the old dog.  He was standing in front of the glass doors with his hackles raised.  He was in full protective stance with his bulldog like shape being strong and sturdy!  Yep, Mr. PJ was protecting us from this stranger!  I put my hand on his back as reassurance and opened the door.  The man asked for my brother so I directed him to the west.  Mr. PJ stayed by my side.  His barking had ceased but his mere presence was enough to make the man back up a good fifteen feet behind the closed gate.  Mr. PJ had done his job well.

  Once I closed the door, I knelt down and gave the old dog a hug and praised him.  He needed that.  He needed to be needed.  He looked brighter and more alert.  He pranced about the room a bit which is something he has not done for months.  Later when we went out for his final walk of the day, he stayed by my side with ears up and nose working the air.  He had found his importance again.  He did not hurry back inside but instead took a nice long hike about the hillside.  This whole innocent ordeal had revived a sense of duty in the old dog.  It sure looks good on him.