Sage's Puppy Love

This weekend I loved watching Sage, my one-year-old grandson, learn which of our three dogs he can really snuggle and cuddle with as he got comfortable at our home.

I loved how he had no fear when all three dogs ran up to him wagging their tails. If he was crawling, he would sit up and look them directly in the eyes, reaching his arms out to each one of them.

Once they checked him out, he started checking them out. Over and over he checked again to see if Giz was still his pillow, Taz the one who licked him and ran away, and Raz the one who told him to leave him alone with a firm, but low growl. Then he would check again to see if they had changed from one time of day to another. The youngest dog, Taz, still loved to lick Sage, run around him, and be close to him without Sage being able to grab him.  If Taz is too slow, when Sage advances then he scoots away-somehow knowing it is up to him to protect himself.

Raz, at ten, is not so kind. As he has aged, his own physical pain has shortened his willingness to be kind to both Giz and Taz. This weekend I watched him closely as he did the same distancing and limit setting. I especially was amazed to see how easily Sage understood without any fear or tears. He just knew and backed away.

Giz, our thirteen-year-old dog was the love bunny for Sage. He became the pillow, the favorite dog bed, the toy that Sage could grab and hold tight. They found each other. Both loved the touch, the comfort, the connection that transcended words.