There are fewer things more interesting to me about the animal world that different responses different kinds of dogs provoke in human beings. We get the dogs we need, they are mirrors of our lives, needs and emotional histories.  My sister Jame loves what I call “Big Love Dogs,” Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Leonbergers, St. Bernards, they are the woolly sofas of the animal world, big and smart  working dogs bred for centuries to work with people, be around them, weave themselves into their lives.

Dogs can provoke the most powerful emotional responses in us, I have noticed that some people attach powerfully to border collies, they can project all sorts of things unto them, some are drawn to big dogs that are affectionate, soft and capable of great calm. The big working dogs can do a lot of things, but because of their coats and size, they can be capable of great stillness and calm, they can be hugged, touched, used as footstools, the inspire big dog love in people. Some people love big dogs, some love small dogs, it is interesting to me that my sister is very drawn to big love dogs, as well as complicated dogs in need of rescue.

Like all working dogs in the hands of patient people, my sister’s dogs are very calm, very good citizens of the home. She took out a packet of dried salmon bits – she has the most exotic treats- and these huge dogs (any one of them could have knocked her over in a flash) sat calmly waiting for their turn. In my experience, animals calm down once they understand they will get their fair share, and once they are asked to be calm about what they eat and do.