"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army."
~ Edward Everett ~
Our pup is not quite 4 months old and he weighs 38 pounds- every inch of him solid, paws like oaks.
We named him "Tank" for a reason.
And he's willful- got the confidence and defiance to match his size,
And the gentleness too.
Like all of us really, he's a mix of light and shadow.
And in some ways, already more than we can responsibly handle
without more dog expertise than we have.
So we're taking him to a trainer and he will be there for 3 weeks.
It's the real deal,
And I feel mixed about it-
A bit guilty,
A bit sad,
Hopeful,
And in some ways relieved.
We seek structure for a happy balance between
Affection and force.
And, God willing,
We will all be better off for the three weeks
And not less so.
I relax and surrender. It takes what it takes.
