Just finished reading iMonk’s post on facing the main problem in evangelicalism today but I have a bigger issue – why can’t my dog, Sandy, open the door herself?
As early as I get up, she will get up with me. (Yes, she sleeps at the foot of the bed, pushing either me or Sharon gradually off during the night). She has to immediately go outside for business, and then immediately eat, and then immediately go outside, this time for a little more wandering around. And then she comes in. Then she goes back upstairs to bed. Then she has to come back down an hour or so later to go back outside. Then she has to be let in. Oh, did I mention that each time she goes downstairs, I have to carry her. The steps are not carpeted and she is afraid she will slip. Soemthing she has done a time or two. Actually it’s a sight to behold – the dog can do downhill skiing. I am not a doorman in the house of the Lord. I provide concierge service to the Great Cocker Spaniel.
But if I wanted to train her in different ways, I would have to train Sharon – and that ain’t happenin’. Sharon is the only person I have ever met who got kicked out of dog training. Yes, she graduated college with a 3.9, but she flunked dog training. Obviously a dog has to learn to do what it doesn’t want to do, and that means a few moments of “surprise” at the hands of the trainer. Sharon’s discomfort at the dog’s discomfort brought tears to her eyes. Now it was the trainer who was getting uncomfortable. He pulled me aside on the second visit and let me know that he would only continue training if Sharon didn’t come along. Actually Sharon was more than happy to comply.
So at home I have learned to live in the dog’s cave rather than the dog living in my cave. But what are you going to do when your wife got kicked out of dog training school?
