February 07, 2003
The look on her face really says it all.
10:00 p.m.
On one level, I really felt sorry for my dog. I find three small children to be a bit much to take, so I can only imagine what Dusty was thinking. But it's so important for her to understand what little people are like and to be unafraid of them and these were three exceptionally well-behaved little people.
Still, it was a baptism by fire. When Dusty stumbled out of her Sherpa bag into the living room of my friend L's house, she looked like a space traveller encountering a strange landscape inhabited by aliens. As she looked around her in shocked puzzlement, I said aloud "Take me to your leader..." and we all laughed.
For three and a half hours, Dusty endured the noise of small voices raised in excitement and the intrusion of small prodding hands. The oldest child, a girl, wasn't very interested in the dog and the youngest, a two-year-old, was off in his own little universe.
But the 5-year-old was entranced by the puppy - he sat quietly for over a half hour holding Dusty in his lap and stroking her. He crooned "Good Dusty" over and over under his breath. Then, he scooped Dusty up and carried her off, giving her the house tour. Dusty didn't make a sound and quietly endured.
She slept in her sherpa bag during supper and then quietly sat on my lap as the children looked at books. She slept in the car and collapsed, exhausted, as soon as we got home.
Socialization is hard work.