Hunter is Dog Tired

Hunter spent most of today at doggie daycare. It was a good experience, though Nana missed him until I brought him back home in midafternoon. He emailed me partway through to tell me he was having fun, and to show me some photos with his new lookalike friend Molly. When I picked him up this afternoon, Auntie Erin and Auntie Kari said that he'd had lots of fun and got along well with all the playmates - they had 14 dogs there today.

Can I also just say, looking at this photo, how much I love my dog. I love him so much it feels my heart will burst, or break. For the last six months, I have been going through a rather spiritual experience with another doggie friend Jenny, who has been teaching me patiently (because I am so slow to learn) about communicating with dogs. I believe this is deeply impacting my relationship with Hunter too - at least I don't think this is entirely coincidental. In just the last few months, there are new precious routines with Hunter that we hadn't had before - especially the morning wakeup, which now involves him curling up next to me in bed for a little quiet talk and some hugs before the day starts. And more precious than anything else, is that this dog now meets my gaze at times, and doesn't break it in distraction or agitation or just inability to stay connected. Our eyes really meet now, often, and when we're alone and quiet in the evening, sometimes minutes go on and he doesn't stop looking, doesn't stop engaging me just with his eyes. This is brand new for us. There are some windows opening, and I know now that there is more which lies beyond for us to find.