Ivy Takes Charge

Mindless petting. Well-meaning DAR&E members warned us against mindless petting. Given half the chance, Dobermans will train us, they cautioned, instead of the other way around.

They might have been right.

Ivy, a senior dobe just over 6 years old, came to Dave and Lisa's home in February 2003. At first nervous and high-strung in an environment full of new sights and sounds, she quickly settled in. Soon it was unnecessary to protect her new owners from sounds emanating from the townhouse next door; dogs and critters she saw on walks around the neighborhood did not need to be frightened off.

Ivy even learned to tolerate her new dog-brother 3 year old Frankie, a cocker-mix who's not much for playing, running, or… much of anything else really. When she's feeling particularly hopeful, Ivy runs circles around her reluctant playmate and barks "let's play!" But all to no avail; Frank stands there stiff as a board. (Oh well - there're still squirrels to run off the lawn, and those slippery shadows to chase when the birds fly overhead.) Despite Frankie's many shortcomings, and Ivy's status as number one dog, she still wistfully allows him one slight annoyance - to steal her bed when she vacates it. It's paws off the toys, though!

In return for all her sacrifices - putting up with Frankie, dog obedience classes (I know this stuff already, mom!), numerous health inspections at the insistence of her hypochondriac mother, dad continuously making her fetch her toy, and not being allowed on the bed - Ivy get lots of mindless petting. An insistent nudge of the hand, a pressing lean against the leg, or even a pining look, is, more often than not, followed by several minutes of love. "Scratch my butt, mom, you know how I love that!"

So Lisa and Dave exchange mindless petting for a dedicated, happy, playful and loving dog. Yep, we trained Ivy to put up with all our idiosyncrasies, and she trained us to give her on-demand love. We wouldn't have it any other way.