It's a Doggy-dog World

I had always figured myself to be a cat person. I'd always liked kittens more than pups and figured that the first pet I'd have would always be a cat. Especially a Persian. So, it took a considerable effort by a furry, drooling, "slightly" overweight bundle of crazy to change all that.

I've been harping about life, especially mine, imitating art. So, if my "professional" experiences are straight out of a Scrubs episode, I feel Marley and Me was probably written keeping me and Dollar in mind. I'd always been around dogs ever since I could remember. A lot of my relatives had dogs, and to me, they seemed nothing short of the best behaved dogs on the planet. So, Marshall and Tenny and Chimu were disciplined to the core, no doubt the effects of a strict military upbringing. And Goldie was Saint Goldie. Legend has it that Goldie's bark had magical healing properties, but I wouldn't know - considering he never did when I was around. Not barking aside, he was the most lovable thing on four legs that ever lived, and besides leaving behind some great memories, he left me with a problem. Because Goldie was now the benchmark by which i would judge all future dogs, I was setting myself up for a world of trouble.

It was a cold December day when we got Dollar home. I haven't told him this ( and I hope you guys won't too) but in a Sunny days- Gavaskar-esque freak of nature, Dollar might not have been the guy we would've brought home. But the trainer said he was the better looking one -and the one voted "most-likely to have a great personality" and the rest as they say is history. Of course, when we did choose him, I hadn't had the fortune of finishing "Marley and Me". And we didn't sample both the parents before we got him. So, I suppose all future vases cracked, sofas chewed and peed on are our fault, really!

I guess deciding to don a "parents role" for Dollar was a momentary stray thought. After all, with Aai-Baba being Aai-Baba for Dollar too, I could,honestly, have my cake and eat it. I'd have all the endless pleasure of playing with a pup with never-ending energy without having to worry about the peeing all over and pooping in the middle of the night. Of course, dollar did all of us a big favour and got toilet trained real quick ( 3 months or so, although Dad would like everyone to know it was 3 weeks). After that, it was pretty much smooth sailing.

Till we got to the chewing bit. Like all dogs do, Dollar had this phase around 5 months or so when every thing in our house became his own personal chew toy. The sofas started it off. And then he moved on to the walls. It didn't matter that we actually got chew-toys for him. I suppose the paint on the wall gave him flavours a chew toy never could. The next three months was spent on trying every known remedy. Smearing chilli powder didn't help at all. If anything, it spurred him on even more. And so it went on. Considering the sofas were right in our living room - that was probably the topic of discussion. And a whole lot of embarrassed/sheepish smiles for us. The growing up continued, and save for the stray visitor humped beyond compare, I don't think we had too much to complain.

Life with Dollar, is probably, all ha ha hee hee. If you get past the few quirks in the road that is. For starters, he's got the biggest appetite in the world. I know Labs love to eat, rather, live to eat - but, Dollar is in a league of his own. We started him on Pedigree like all pet owners do when they're green. After all, go with the tried and tested. But, somehow he never took a liking to it. I mean, when you live in a house where you are going to get every single delicacy the rest of the family eats, Pedigree really has no chance. I remember getting a customer survey guy from Pedigree over to check up on Dollar - poor guy should've realized what was clearly a losing battle - and he probably must've lost it when Dad started naming the things Dollar actually likes to eat. Saying that he has a sweet tooth is the understatement of the millennium. The thing he likes most in the world, and I'm not kidding here, is Kharvas. So much so that we are now forbidden to utter the word at home -the mere mention of it sets him drooling. So we started spelling it, but I'm sure he's caught on to that too.
The funny thing is, the sweet tooth thing evolved into a liking of everything that Dad gives him. So he eats all sorts of vegetables, even he ones I hate - Gawar and Bhendi to name a few. So, the foodie thing's worked out for me big time. Mum's happy - I'm now finishing first servings in record time.

The one thing that probably defines my day with Dollar is the walk in the evening. And people who've come along with us will vouch for the fact that it is an experience. Every single time. It starts with getting the leash - which is a 10 minute ritual consisting of Dollar generally going haywire - and freaking out all over. Once he's ready and leashed up - it begins. Considering that re-enforcing his territory is THE purpose of the trip, Dollar doesn't let a single spot go dry. It's been 5 years of walking him, and I'm still surprised at the amount of pee he has stored up. I mean his bladder would put a Humvee to shame.
The shortest distance between two points might be a line, but try telling him that. What usually ensues is the most convoluted path you can ever think of, with numerous de-tours and re-runs, with him dragging me along - stopping only to relieve himself for the gazzillionth time, or to stop and smell someone else's calling cards.
The best part about is that, considering most Indians are still petrified of dogs - a walk with Dollar through a crowd is usually like Moses parting the waters - or Jim Carrey and the cars in Bruce Almighty - if you didn't get that. Dollar probably loves a little tormenting and he heads straight at them - which ends up with the best shrieks people can manage - guys and girls. And if there might happen to be a cat around...

But what Dollar means to me is something that I'll always struggle to put into words. He never was just a pet. Always family. And three months without him early next year is a thought I don't want to entertain.

I read an article a few months back in Time magazine, where the author suggested that animals, even dogs, might be incapable of emotions in the truest sense. I have never disagreed with any other written word more. 5 minutes with my guy is enough to shatter that claim. It's not just excitement and joy that he exudes. Dad or Mum go out, the separation pangs show. Bring another pet close, and jealousy rears her ever ugly head. But,he is, and has been, there for me, when I needed it the most. I remember, and this is one story I have never shared with anyone - it had been a year since Aajoba passed away. Dollar was a year old. And we were alone at home. There was a guy calling, who simply asked me to put him on the phone. The question was straight forward, probably an old acquaintance who hadn't been in touch. But, somehow I couldn't say a word. I couldn't get myself to tell him that I couldn't put him on the phone. I thought that I had gotten over his passing, but everything came flooding back, and I was reduced to a quivering mess. The only thing I remember is that I was huddled up in a corner, and Dollar coming and sitting beside me and putting his face in my lap, just to let me know he was there. And he never left for a second.

And so, to Dollar, the biggest, craziest softie I've seen, the only guy I've ever laid a big wet one on, and quite possibly, my soulmate, it's a hell of a journey we're on. And i can't believe you're turning 5. Middle aged now, eh? Here's to wishing you some brilliant times ahead ( do try and give me a pup with some girl, will you? - and preferably, another lab - not the strays you only have eyes for) and a very happy 5th birthday!! You are barking mad, and I wouldn't change you for the world!