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| pic courtesy neverfurgetmypet @Pixabay.com |
When I was a teenager, I was very, very scared of animals and birds. Having grown up in a city and having absolutely no contact with animals was surely the reason behind this fear. I did my best to avoid the stray dogs around and acknowledged their presence only when I had to.
I recall being chased once as a 6-year-old, down a street by a tiny kitten who wanted to play with me. Truly embarrassing stuff, I know. However, all that changed when I found myself in my friend's room with his Doberman tied to a leash sitting quietly in one corner. I had by then visited this house quite a number of times and so, the dog was used to me and me to her. I just made sure to never acknowledge her. Also, I never saw her without her leash and she was always at a safe distance. This one day, for God knows what reason, she was in the same room I was in. My friend left me in the room for some time as he had to go to another part of the house.
I sat there, absorbed by my thoughts. No phone to scroll through or reels to watch those days, I probably was dreaming with my eyes open. I had not paid much attention to the dog in the room and I guess somewhere in me there was calm and rest. Before I was even aware, I felt a head gently nudge my hand that was dangling without purpose. It was the Doberman Trixie who had found me and was then moving the top of her head under my hand. She had been silently observing me and probably thought it was time to befriend me.
The rational me would think I should have been screaming and scared. The physical me was simply amazed by how this creature wanted me to pet her and had sought me out. She had found the perfect way to approach me without startling me and there I was looking at her eyes and her head.
There I was, feeling my fear evaporate. The fear that was irrational, unconscious and deep within me was dwindling with each movement of her head. She didn't try to lick me or get all over me. It was as if she knew this was all I could take. She settled down at my feet. We stayed there, happy in each other's company till our common friend came back and witnessed the small new bond.
Since then, thanks to this beautiful moment, I'm not scared of dogs and am able to appreciate their intelligence and instincts.
#dogs #intelligentdogs #loyaldogs #doberman #feargoingaway #friendlyanimal #pets #furrypets
#doglovers #doglover #bigdogs #fearofanimals
