If
ever anyone could doubt the intelligence of man’s best friend, dispel that
concern now. Dumb animal’s I think not. How did dogs earn the
moniker ‘man’s best friend’, this is how.
Tragically my father lost his eyesight aged 60 years and had to set about the task of learning all the skills we take for granted again. Every activity takes so much concentration he is grateful for what constructive help he can get. That help has come in the form of ‘Sunny’ (Bushland Desert Sun) a pedigree Kelpie from Anne & Daryl Sim. Initially he came to us to be a friend to our existing dog and company for Dad. We got a little more than we bargained for though.
Sunny is not a trained guide dog nor experienced with visually impaired folk, but his genuine instinct for humans is amazing. Wherever my father goes outside at home armed with his trusty white cane so does Sunny. Sunny is careful to stay half a pace behind so as not to get in the way. Sunny, being a hefty and healthy (spoilt) young fella comes in handy when he sees Dad is going to walk into a wall or like structure. Sunny instinctively positions himself to create a barrier a collision with which my father has learnt to be a warning that he is off course. Sunny has not been taught to do this; he obviously does know that Dad is blind but how does he know the relevance of this or the action to take?
He also is very defensive of Dad and will position himself between any aggressor (man, woman or beast). This clearly displays a natural protective instinct in addition to his intrinsic care and concern for his owner. Sunny is indeed man’s best friend, and he exemplifies the characteristics that generated the term ‘man’s best friend’.
I am not well versed in the
characteristics pertaining to breeds and I am sure they do vary; some breeds
being better friends than others and individual animals being better than
others of the same breed. My experience with Sunny the Australian Kelpie
has won me.
Paul Fisher
Sunbury