Finian’s pet parents fell in love with her the minute they saw her romping with her litter mates. A combination of her playful eyes and her happy bounce had them at, “Awwww”. Her future traits of intelligence, loyalty and a gentle demeanor where already visible behind those baby brown
eyes.
Seven months later Finian’s human parents added onto their family. At first, Finian was not too sure what to make out of the baby girl - and all its noise!
The dog was a tad jealous that all “her” attention was being focused elsewhere. A few weeks later things began to change with the weather and her walks resumed.
The walks started out with a squalling baby, but ended up being longer than normal - much to
Finian’s joy. The formula was dog + baby = long walk until the baby is asleep.
Finian thought, “Hey! This baby thing is going to work out after all!” She knew that if the baby “needed” walking, then it was going to be a good outside sniff and stroll day. Finian began falling in love with “her” baby.
Finian was the paw-verbial nanny. When the baby cried, she ran to “retrieve” mom or over to the baby to check on her herself. To soothe
the baby, Finian was seen to give the little one a little kiss.
As her baby grew, Finian, showed the patience of a saint. She sat immobile as the little one yelled in her ear, or grabbed at her tail, or flopped over her back for a hug. But booping her nose was not allowed and resulted in quick relocation from the infant.
Now that “her” toddler is three, the little girl treats Finian like a celebrity from Sesame
Street!
After a nap, or as Finian walks back into the house from her outside duties, the toddler laughs and yells “Fini” with giggles and glee.
The baby’s first two words were mama and dada, but her third was “Fini”, which she joyfully repeats over and over, about a babble-zillion times a day! Having a dog has taught the toddler how to love another and how to be gentle with them.
Fini is a good teacher! She, like dogs
since the beginning of time, not only nurture their loved ones, she demonstrates unconditional love and loyalty. This bond runs so deep that it explains why people chose to remain behind in dangerous weather conditions, like hurricanes, to protect their pet. It is difficult to leave a family member behind and helpless, so the pet parents stay to comfort their pets. Pets are an important part of our families. Having Finian demonstrates to her toddler that a pet deserves the same love and respect
as all family member.
Finian is taller and weighs more than the toddler. So play time can be accidentally-hectic with a tail wagging bump to the floor for the child. This is a good life lesson that life has its bumps, but we must get up again, and learn to play and laugh again.
Finian has discovered a new use for her toddler. The child can toss a ball, not too far, but Finian still has that puppy bounce as she goes after it and brings it back to
her pleased pitcher.
We have all seen a child and canine connection like these two. It is heartwarming to witness and watch them smile at each other or hear the child break into spontaneous laughter at something they telepathically understand.
And just like Forest Gump and his son, the sight of a toddler on her favorite “blankie” with her head on her dog watching TV - well, it makes all our hearts smile. And Finian can’t rest on his laurels for
too long, as the family’s newest addition, a baby boy, is due in three months!
