Dogs are so much better than we humans at knowing - and asking for - exactly what they need.
Thunder and lightning last night caused our spoodle, Paris, to whimper in fear. The lightning struck on such an angle that it literally lit up the laundry where she sleeps and she was terrified. She was crying out to be rescued. Stumbling about half asleep, we moved her and her bed upstairs and allowed her the unprecedented treat of sleeping (on the floor) in our room. We closed the door to keep out any flashes of light and all re-settled as the thunder continued to roll across the roof.
Within seconds I felt Paris’s paws up on my side of the bed and heard nervous panting near my face, each breath punctuated with tiny frightened squeaks.
Of course I relented and allowed her onto the bed, ushering her firmly to a cosy spot near our feet. But that wasn’t what she had in mind. She quickly found her way into the sliver of space between our pillows and nuzzled in under my arm where she settled down immediately and fell asleep.
Some hours later, after a bathroom visit, I returned to bed to the gentle rhythmic beating of her tail against my pillow.
“Welcome back. Oh, and thank God you’re here”.
Surpisingly, we all slept well, despite the unfamiliar and, at times, somewhat smelly arrangements.
I think there’s something very reassuring about knowing exactly what’s required and being willing and adaptable enough to be able to instinctively provide what’s needed.
(Oh, and by the way Paris, if you read this and think you can sleep in that same spot tonight, in your dreams!)
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