The love between a boy and his dog is one of the simplest and purest loves the boy will ever experience. We should hand out dogs to all boy survivors. It would save time and money and meet most of the basic needs. The healing would start with the first lick.
If I could, I would buy every boy survivor I ever met a dog. The breed, colour, size or name matters not a jot. What matters is that they know how to do dog love. They know that you can be covered in tears or toast crumbs or both, and they still look at you like you hung the moon.
A love that is unconditional, unflinching, and sometimes slightly slobbery.
A small, furry, soul-sniffing wag machine who thinks you’re the centre of the universe just because you have opposable thumbs and smell like biscuits.
You would never disappoint them because just your presence is enough for them. Because you have to walk them and feed them and pick up poo, you learn to put something else first. No matter how you are feeling, they need you. Being needed is a healthy thing to feel.
Whenever you come back from wherever you have been, you are greeted as if you are the most important thing that has ever been. Until you have experienced an all-body tail wag, then you do not know enthusiasm.
You learn essential skills like doing anything else with one hand because there always needs to be a hand free for tummy foofing. Within a short space of time, you adjust to being stared at with complete adoration. It is disturbing at first, and you feel slightly uncomfortable in the full glare of worship.
Every single time you leave the house, there is the distinct feeling of the possibility of a huge adventure, and anything could happen, and so many smells.
The dogma of dog love is the complete opposite of human dogma. To love unconditionally, no matter how you smell or what you have done. To always want to be with you, however you feel, because dog love only understands that you are there, and already that makes everything better.
Dogmatically following you everywhere you go, being nearby, or beside you or on you is the best day ever.
Licking your face is good and holding you down with a heavy paw on your head is strong love and you will just lie still and take it because it is what you need and they know best.
If we have a theology of dog love, we should recognise the church they build in your heart. The rituals of walking together in all kinds of weather. Learning to shake it off. Dusk or dawn, a walk just is. Whether you run or plod, it is still being on a journey together.
Biscuits are crunchy and the best kind of communion; you give them to me, I receive them, and we are all the better for it.
We assume the position of meditative prayer by allowing me to crawl into your lap and you will worship to the sound of my gentle snores. And we will not move unless the doorbell rings or I need a wee.
Maybe we need some sacred texts.
The Book of Common Woofs.— I’m a dog, are you a dog? Here is my bottom, feel free to sniff. If I run in circles, would you like to run in circles?
Paws For Thought. — Who’s that? Was that the postman? Can I smell something yummy? Are you making food?
My Life As A Dog — an autobiography. Squirrels I almost caught. Tennis balls I have ignored. Sticks I have known and loved.
Understanding the theology of dog love does not need you to learn a language, or go to school, or read books, or pass exams. You just need to hold a dog in your arms. Curl up on a bed with your arm draped over a dog. Feel its breath on your face as you sleep.
The theology of dog love is softly felt.
Dog love does not need you to leap tall buildings or walk 500 miles; showing up is enough. There is nothing you can do to receive dog love, just being you is reason for love to be shown.
In the uncomplicated world of dogs, however, you feel they have the perfect answers; this wet, slobbery tongue is for you, and this damp nose is also for you, and this wriggly, excited attack is also just for you.
Because without you, they have no reason for being. You are their world.
a blog less ordinary 