If you have followed my blog for any time now, you know my incredibly wonderful son and his equally wonderful wife are interning for the summer in Texas. Matt and Karissa, both in law school, are spending the summer at a great firm, doing very interesting law work, while dog sitting in the firm's owner's palace. The only downside was the dog to be left in their care was a trained attack dog. Matt has been attacked many times by dogs, who seem to sense his now understandable fear. I must admit, I was very worried about the whole gig. Matt told me the dog was a Belgian Malinois, and it is trained to kill. Lovely.
They started dog sitting about a week ago. Matt knew I was worried, and he wrote to tell me the dog seemed very attached to them. Both of them liked the dog. Matt told me he was very protective of Karissa but was gentle and loving with both of them.
Yesterday, Karissa was walking Enzo, the Belgian Malinois, when a golden retriever, supposedly the world's friendliest dog, barreled out of nowhere and attacked them. Enzo sprang into action, got between the retriever and Karissa, tackled him, and held him down till the stupid owner came to retrieve his stupid dog. Enzo, that amazing Belgian Malinois, held the retriever down the whole time, without biting or harming him, until Karissa told him it was ok to let the Golden return to his owner.
Once again, I think God was teaching me a lesson about prejudice. I feared the attack dog. I generally don't fear Golden Retrievers. In the end, the competent owner with the well trained dog proved again, it is not the dog that is the problem...it is the owner.
Psalm 17:6-9 (NIV)
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. [7] Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. [8] Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings [9] from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org
I had a border collie as my first dog. I now have a belgian shepherd mix.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend a border collie to anyone who is active and loves training.
I wouldn't recommend a belgian.
The BC was so easy to live with - he wanted to help, he wanted to work FOR me. He found useful jobs around the house for himself. He saved my possessions and me several times. He gave me peace of mind.
The belgian just wants to do something. ANYTHING. She doesn't care if it's useful or not, and if it involves barking at the top of her lungs all to the better.
She's a royal pain in the ass.
while the BC helped me, looked after me, the belgian constantly wants my attention for HER. Everything is about HER food, HER walkies, HER playtime... it's exhausting. Honestly if I'd known how different her personality would be Compared to a BC I would have just held out for another BC...
At least I know now not to bother with another breed. For me nothing beats a border collie.