This is the story of a once nauseous puppy turning into a seadog.
It was 2001 and Chet had just recently been married to wife. He and his wife were looking for their first baby. They decided to take the leap and adopt a golden retriever named Mazie hoping that this would fulfill their want to extend their family. Little did they know that this puppy would show them what patience truly meant.
Chet had always been a dog person, growing up with dogs and not even trusting people that don’t like dogs. It seemed that Mazie was the perfect fit for them and…she was! Mazie and him would go everywhere together, whether that was in the car, his boat, or simply on a leash. Even when Chet had to leave Mazie behind, she would simply “sleep on the linoleum floor on the kitchen with some baby gates blocking the doorways”. She was an old soul at heart, and her essence illuminated peace, calmness and patience.
However, like every dog, there are some moments Chet was frustrated with his puppy. One occasion was when Chet took Mazie fishing for the first time on his boat when she was a mere pup. She immediately got sea sick and Chet was confused why she wasn’t adjusting that well. However, he took a step back and adjusted the world to see through her eyes. He noticed how Mazie couldn’t see the water or waves because she was so small, and would get sick from rocking constantly. Patience, practice, and routine make for a great puppy and Chet slowly brought Mazie out on his boat and soon enough she became a “total boat dog”.
Mazie was a listener too. Even when Chet decided years in to start training her, she understood “sit” and even moved to the other side of the sidewalk when Chet said “this side” as they were walking. He understood that she was a good listener when he was a good leader and he knew that they would learn only by doing things together.
The connection between Chet and Mazie was immediate and lasted for the rest of her life.
Remember to have patience with your dogs. Sometimes they can’t get to your level, so come down to theirs….you may even get a doggy captain to help you out on the sea.
Peace and Love,
The Dogi Lama