[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

Gone to the dogs. Who has not heard the idiom? Historically, it meant deteriorate or going down hill. Today’s treatment of the pups puts a different spin.

Have you ever wondered how humans and dogs developed such a co-dependent relationship? In our state, 65% of households have a pet. More intriguing is that those who have dogs have an average number of 1.8. So there are more critters than households.

How much would you pay to save your dog? Who would spend $4,000? In Oklahoma 25% would and that is one of the lowest states. In many states, the number is over 50%. Not only would I, but we did that for a surgery and care of our docile old hound. Is he a prized pedigree? No, he is a rescue. So, there is some value to these quadrupeds, other than on paper.

The hound is a Harrier, smaller than an full-size Walker coon-hound, but larger than a Beagle. This week, our vet and I were enjoying our repartee. I commented the hound was selectively deaf and he retorted that is why he bays so loud. Hounds are a fabulous dog, except for a definitive trait. When they are on the trail tracking a squirrel or whatever, they let out their noted howl so you can follow them, not vice-versa.

Hounds are so focused on the task that they ignore most anything else. Are they a good apartment dog? Other than dachshund, few are. The breeds are generally laid back and non-aggressive, but they need lots of exercise. Their focus makes them appear stubborn and they do not want to chase a ball or Frisbee, but prefer exploring new adventures.

The soulful, hound-dog expression convinces many that they are the it canine. They make excellent therapy dogs. People want to like them and they return the compassion with a gentle paw or laying their head on your leg. They are perfectly happy to lay there beside their person.

The antithesis of hound is our 11-month old puppy. When our gentle old girl dog, who was the undisputed alpha of the ranch critters, walked into memory, I began looking for another country dog. Our son-in-law and grandson were visiting a farm and brought me a bundle of energy with a brown Australian Shepherd mom and Blue Heeler dad. She is a stunningly gorgeous little dog at 22 pounds. She is a lap dog for about 45 seconds, then its activity. If you have ever watched dog agility trials or other highly active dogs, this is likely the breed.

They are incredibly intelligent, eager to please, and easy to train, if you are determined enough to be the alpha. They are quick movement and learn to maneuver livestock, with little to no input from their human. These little energy packages easily move a 2,000 pound bull, using their agility, quickness, and intelligence.

This week, the co-author received a video showing one of these working dogs at a rodeo moving a huge bull back into the pen and protecting the cowboy. It was a fascinating sight to watch the little dog and her human move the livestock.

Like many posts, the comments made no sense. People who knew nothing of the breed, their purpose in life, and the joy she gets from working, revealed their lack of perception. I want to use other words of candor, but decorum dictates discretion. Some rattled on about abusing and teasing the big, far from docile, ornery gray Brahman bull, bred and raised for his rodeo role. Others whined about exposing the little dog to the dangers of the bull. Neither opinion was rooted in reality. Dogs, or other critters, should not be abused. Full stop. Similarly, they should have an outlet for their skills.

People and critters have a special connection. Both are happy when they are doing what they do best. Selective breeding has produced animals with amazing, inherited, innate characteristics. Our pup was with her mother up to 10-weeks, hardly time to be taught how to be a herding dog. I have not taught that to her. But she certainly is. She may be the youngest and smallest on the ranch, but she thinks she is alpha until the big, older female reminds her.

We can learn from our dogs. Society does not have people breeds. Nevertheless, some people have abilities and skills that others do not, and others do not understand. Be careful in criticism especially of those with unique and special talent. We want to avoid being like the observers of the herding dog video, who did not understand the choreography and the good work being accomplished.

Think about it. The country is at a unique time with an incredibly gifted engineer-economist cleaning the government house of fraud, waste, and abuse and his boss who is a talented negotiator-economist working to correct international problems. Both have career demonstrated ability. It is not necessary to understand the nuances to appreciate the work that we have not seen in the other thirteen Presidents of my lifetime.