I just shared a moment with my newest foster dog. He flew to my state yesterday so I could foster him and find a new home.

He was hanging out with me in the kitchen, and somehow I ended up on the floor with him on my lap, giving him a cuddle.

I know dogs generally object to cuddles, and so I was rather attentive to his body language for feedback on this interaction. If you took a picture of this dog, in my arms, from a distance, he probably looked somewhat tense. However, his face revealed how relaxed he was: His eyes were closed.

Here was this dog, on my lap, tucked up to my chest, my arms supporting him, and my head over him – and this dog, totally at my mercy and relaxed, after knowing me for about 30 hours.

Buddy having a cuddle in the sunshine.

And I got to thinking, aren’t dogs amazing? Continue reading →