World's Worst Dog?

Going back a couple years now, 3 to be exact, a book came out that would help summarize the love and friendship that men have with their canine counterparts. The book, named "Marley & Me", is a true life story that summarizes the relationship that the author had with his first dog, Marley (named after Bob Marley).

Right around the time that John Grogan released his book I had purchased my first dog, Toby. True, I have had other dogs before him; Cassie, a crazy little "hot dog" dachshund that use to eat all my G.I. Joes and store the remains of them under the couch, and Charlie, who was an absolute nutcase Beagle/Springer Spaniel mix that would bite everyone and dig holes throughout our entire property; but Toby was the first dog that I could officially say was mine.

As reading "Marley & Me", Grogan goes on to say that he owned "the world's worst dog", but when you take a look at it, that 97 lb Lab is no worse than a lot other dogs out there. Sure, he chewed apart a couch, a phone and slippers, but what dog hasn't? And, yeah, whenever there was a thunderstorm he would completely tear apart the laundry room, but why put your dog in there, unless you are asking for trouble.

This story certainly is a touching one that goes from the day that John and his wife brought him home all the way till the day he goes to that little puppy heaven in the clouds. But, it really shows you that a pet is not just an animal or something you purchased, a pet is someone who you brought into your family, to be a part of your family. Some people, myself included, get so attached to their pets that they might as well be a brother or sister.

With Toby being 2 and a half, I have already been through a lot of the same things that John Grogan decibels in his book. He has eaten things he was not supposed to (fish, birds, whole pine cones), he has gotten into things he was not supposed to (garbage, baby diapers, whole bags of chocolate), but I have also seen him at his happiest (running next to me in the mornings for our jogs, laying next to me when we are going to sleep, or fetching a stick in the lake).

You should certainly check out the book, but if you don't have the time or if you are just flat out lazy, check out the movie that is coming out on Christmas.