My point is, I've never met an animal who is "just" an animal.

Comet's love for Beauty and the Beast is absolute and unwavering even now that he's no longer a puppy, except for one thing.

No, I didn't have to smear peanut butter on the walls, or up my arms or on their faces.

If any small detail of this morning had been different, this could have been the worst day of my life.

Even as a small puppy, he had no issues telling me off for climbing on the counters. I managed to get him comfortable with standing on a stool, but he still watches me carefully and grumbles.

In having to reset myself every time I enter a dog park, meet new people or enter an uncomfortable situation, he's helped me put the uglier parts of my past far behind me.

Just saying, from experience, working on the things I can change seems easier than changing everybody else. But, that's your choice isn't it?

I looked up, and there he was, about 10 feet away, sitting like a good boy, head slightly tilted, watching me dance like a fool.

While I was firm, I was never loud or punishing. Regardless, if Comet was a person and I, his real mother, I can imagine the things he screamed at me from his crate on these occasions would be worthy of a Dr. Phil episode.

When he was younger Target could impart on Comet the wisdom of things like, "how to patrol the backyard for things to bark at" or "this is how we sleep through fireworks" (thank you Target!)