It’s Day 4 at the Marathon Bloggers week-long fun Feb Challenge
‘‘A story for every picture, a picture for every story”.
Today’s prompt is ‘Shadows’.
However, I am taking the liberty of talking about just one Shadow today, bear with me please.
I might not be much of an animal lover but I come from a family that’s teeming with dog and cat crazy people. People who think their families are incomplete without their pets. You know the type, don’t you? They ..
..flood FB with doggy quotes and pictures.
..allow pets the run of the place.. even on their beds and in their quilts.
..love being licked all over (Yikes!).
..call home scores of time during vacations to ask “Did he eat?” “Is he missing us?” *Eye roll*
..suffix their surnames to the dog’s and insist on addressing him/her as “my baby”!!
You get the drift?
So how do dogs fit the bill for today’s prompt?? Well, for one because they do shadow their owners. My SIL’s pug, for instance, hates being tied up in a separate room when we go visiting (only because I do not gladly offer my feet for a thorough lick). He scratches the door till I feel he’ll break it down.
And secondly because the one dog I’m going to introduce to you guys is called just that.
Meet Shadow!
Shadow has the fiercest bark and looks as ferocious as they come. But that’s where it ends.. the fierceness! He’s the gentlest soul ever. I am a non-believer remember, so hear out how I got convinced.
He’s gentle to a fault
When my nephew, Y, was a toddler he loved to play with Shadow’s claws, which must have been pretty painful for him (imagine someone trying to tug out your nails) but did he express his displeasure/discomfort? Nope. He would simply back off when he’d see my nephew approaching and would finally find sanctuary under the bed!
O he is possessive!
Once my sister pretended to whack Y. In a trice Shadow was on the bed with my sister’s hand in his mouth. No biting, mind you.. but boy! was it scary. This for a boy who was trying to pull out his claws! And from a dog who’s by nature as scared as a mouse.
But he’s a scaredy cat
Sample this: He runs out onto the road barking aggressively.. a cow nearby lifts her head.. just lifts her head and he’s back in the house.. tail between his legs!
.. and he’s the baby of the house
My favourite however is how he’d fed. His food is put in his plate and he’s called out ‘Shadow, come for your dinner or Y will eat up your food.” Then my nephew, now 7, runs to his plate and pretends to ‘eat’ his food and Shadow appears magically to claim his plate. This ritual is repeated every single day. Crazy or what??? And I thought we did this only with kids!! Don’t believe me.. look at the picture above – it’s feeding time.
Yeah sometimes, just sometimes, I think dogs might be cute.
Aww!! He seems adorable!! 🙂
Such a brilliant name – Shadow!!
Shadow is one of my favourite dog names.. remember the book by Enid Blyton 🙂 ? Loved the heartfelt post Tulika, almost makes me want to have a dog, but that's going to take a few more years!
i love dogs so for me, this post is like a refresher course… i was nodding my head knowing fully well what you mean 😀
Shadow seems to be awesome !
Hey Shadow! Nice to meet you !
I liked the way you described Shadow.But I am still scared of dogs that are not chained and keep a safe distance.
Shadow is sooooooo cute and this is coming from another not so much of a dog lover!!
You too! Oh I remember you're the fish brigade.
Hey Arti… Good to bump into you. Yes it's been long…. Thanks for visiting.
That's a unique take on the prompt and so beautifully written! Shadow is such a gem and so adorable! Long time, Tulika, glad to be reading you today. 🙂
I agree..doggie babies are best friends too..!!
Pups are definitely cute.. Agreed!
such a cutie! I can c a convert 😀
One day… Maybe!
Wow! such a cute dog, this! I love dogs…and would like a pet someday, not anytime soon though!
Dogs are shadows, I believe in that 🙂
In the kind of apartments we have these days it's tough to make place for them. Hard for a dog lover.
He sounds like a great dog. My dogs follow me everywhere I go. If I leave the room they all leave the room with me. They all sleep with me every night. I can't imagine life without them. They truly are shadows! ♥
Dogs? You have more than one?
This sounds so adorable! What a cute name for a dog and looks like he is a 'shadow' of his breed 😀 Lovely post and this from a non-lover of dogs!
I think I may get to like them as I don't have to live with them.
Aww..I love dogs too but sadly I can't have one in this apartment. I make use of all the chance I get when I am at my in laws where they have a Labrador.
I dread the responsibility. It's like having another baby.