Being There and Unconditional Love

Just do nothing

The other day I was sitting with Kevin and Agi at their beautiful farm house underneath a huge maple tree.  We were sipping coffee and chatting away.  Kevin was holding Hero on a leash and no one was paying her much mind.  Without a thought in the world, I got up to get something out of the house.

Hero lit up like a match hitting a pile of kerosene soaked rags.  As I walked away, she jumped up and barked like crazy.  She barked while I was in the house and never took her eyes off that front door.  When I came back, she settled right down and began chewing a stick again.

What’s amazing about this is that it was the first time I really understood the connection I have with this dog.  All I have ever done, ever, is open the crate door, put a food bowl down, and walk her in the woods.  No praise.  No intense petting, no whistling , no talking, no nothing.  I have just stood there and done nothing.  I have just been there.  That has been enough,more than enough, to create an unbreakable bond.

We all know dogs love us unconditionally.  Still, we all try to do things to make them love us.  We don’t need to.  All the things we do;  doggie day care, treat training, behavior modification, praise, punishment, lavish collars, they just get in the way of allowing a dog to freely express their unconditional love for us.

It’s the same with people, all we need to do is just be there, it’s always enough.