Ollie is a Rhodesian Ridgeback--81 pounds of pure muscle. Picture a carmel colored greyhound with a broader chest that could stand on his hind legs, put his paws on my shoulders and look me in the eye. (Thank goodness he's never jumped up in his life.)  Ollie is by far the most highly expressive and empathetic dog I've ever worked with.  He has an amazing vocabulary (over 50 phrases and names) and is able to figure out what is needed from him in a lot of varied situations.  He has dog friends of all sizes ranging from a four-pound teacup Pomeranian to a 90-pound husky.  Once he gets to know you, he is affable and goofy, and delights in showing off tricks he knows.

His neuroses and phobias, however, make him difficult to bring in public.  He has a history of abuse as a young puppy and is scared of men in baseball hats.  He is horrible at generalizing and I am never quite sure how he will react.  His fears include (but are not limited to): topiaries, fire hydrants, newspaper vending machines, rectangle street signs, red plastic cups--not blue, yellow, or clear, clear plastic forks, duffle bags, newspapers--but not wrapping paper, garbage bags, garbage cans, cardboard boxes, tight spaces, and anything out of its normal order or place.  When he is frightened, he does not bite or bark, but simply freezes and won't move except to look frantically from me to the offending object and whine.

He is the dog version of Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Rainman.

Ollie teaches me so many things about living in a scary world.  And when I need time to recharge and evaluate my decisions, he is a great role model.

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1. It takes a lot of courage to 'come see' something that is scary. Even when someone you love and trust is telling you it's okay to come check it out.  Even if it is something you've seen a million times and weren't scared before.  You should always do a happy dance when you've done something brave.

2. It's frustrating when you know how to do something and someone else is still learning. You can either stay beside them and model the correct behavior or walk away. It's ok to do either, but not ok to interrupt the learning.  Don't show off.

3. It's good to let the little ones win. It's okay if a four-pound teacup Pomeranian thinks he can beat you in tug of war. He gets self confidence. You get to play. It's a win-win.

4. Diversity in friends is good.  You learn the best things about yourself when you have friends around you who think differently than you do.  It stretches your mind as you figure out how to play with them. Some are threatened by you when you move fast.  It's best to get on their level and move slowly. Some like to take care of you but don't really like it for you to take care of them. Be flexible and they will keep playing with you.

5. Help older friends.  Visit them regularly. Wait for them to catch up without being impatient. Let them eat first. Just because they can't get up doesn't mean they don't want to play. Bring them the toys and they will play from their bed.

6. If someone you love won't get out of bed, bring them a ball. Wag your tail. Look happy. If they don't get out of bed, sometimes the best thing you can do is be quiet, lay down next to them, and let them cry on you. Then, try the ball again. Don't whine.

7. When friends are sick, sometimes they just need you to be there or spend the night by their side.  It is comforting to have a friend close.  Sometimes friends are too sick to let anyone know.  If that is the case, whine until someone with more medical expertise listens. 

8. When someone is breaking a big rule, try to tell them yourself to stop. If they don't listen, it's okay to let someone with more authority know. Especially if your friend might hurt themselves.

9. It's ok not to like something, but you have to try it first. And if you're creative, you can find a way to kind of like it. Swimming pools are a good example.  If you don't like swimming, find a friend  who does.  He can go swimming and gets the ball to fetch. You take the ball from him at the edge of the pool and bring it to whoever is throwing.

10. When you think your patience is exhausted or the environment is too scary, take a deep breath then leave the room or go outside by yourself for a minute. Run around. Entertain yourself. Or take a nap. Then you will be able to interact with others and play again.

What life lessons do you learn from you furry friends?