Promise #36: Sit. Stay. But don’t be a heel.

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This is Duncan. He’s a 16-month old Tibetan Terrier. As I sit here typing he’s doing what he does everyday: he’s chewing something. Sometimes it’s a cow hoof. Sometimes it’s a mystery bone. But today he’s chewing my shoelaces. They’re almost gone. I’m slightly worried that he’ll be chewing my knee by the time I finish this post.

I know what the dog experts are thinking right now: that’s your fault that he’s chewing your shoelaces, you need to teach him to stop. True. Well said. Thanks but…you’ve never met Duncan. He’s pretty much untrainable. I have the bills to prove it.

The funny thing is that I don’t mind. He’s much calmer than he was last month. He’ll be even calmer next month. And despite his whirlwind of destruction—the carpets, the couch and the kid’s toys—he’s a joy to have around. His devil-may-care attitude continues to teach me a thing or two about life. Important things, like:

1. Don’t do anything for kibble.
2. Sit when you’re ready for a break, not when someone is trying to break you.
3. Never roll over.
4. Don’t trick yourself out. Learn to do something truly remarkable.
5. Listen closely, people will love you for it.
6. Kiss the people you love with wild abandon.
7. Fetch as much fun as you can, whenever you can, for as long as you can.
8. Greet the world with your tail wagging.
9. Protect your pack at all times, at all costs.
10. Lie down and stay around people you love and trust.