In my neck of the woods, winter hung on far longer than most people wanted it to. Me, I didn’t mind the cooler weather, because I actually prefer it.

Sampson does too.

While he won’t turn down a chance to let himself ‘melt’ in the sun, most days he gets too warm, too quick.

Monday our temperatures were in the mid 60’s. Tuesday they moved up to the mid 70’s. Wednesday the temperature climbed into the low 90’s.

Our weather folks can’t seem to get it right. While I’d known it was going to be in the 80’s, where we live, it’s usually a titch cooler than other areas.  I had left some windows open, as well as the door to the little balcony on the front of the house. It’s nice for the dogs to get out and get some fresh air when I’m not home, plus I figured it would help keep them cooler.

I was wrong.

By the time I got home at 5 o’clock, both dogs were already panting. I quickly turned on some ceiling fans, and an oscillating fan I had. I knew they’d want walks, and even though Sampson was hesitant to do so, I coaxed him up with a promise of shortening his walk. He really only gets outside two times per day, and it’s so important that we try and keep his joints moving, so….off we went.

We’ve made friends with a neighbor up the street. Technically, she is only five houses away, but the lots are over-sized, and it’s uphill, so it generally takes us between 5 to 7 minutes to get there. I told Sampson we could turn around at “Miss Karen’s” House.

Sampson loves Miss Karen, and she loves him. He first started his friendship with her a couple of years back. She’d be outside working in her yard, and he would always ‘talk’ to her when we’d walk past, and try to get her attention.

He’s a smooth operator, because that’s how it starts out.  Just a little talking.

He talks to you, and inevitably, you WILL talk to him. Because he WILL wear you down.

Once he has you talking back to him, the tail wagging commences, and the head tilts. Before you know it, you’ve stopped to pet him. Once you’ve done that, you’ve sealed your fate. You will ALWAYS have to pet him when you see him, and he remembers where you live and he looks for you.

That’s what happened with Miss Karen.

Miss Karen is out a lot in warmer months, and not so much in the cooler months. But that doesn’t matter to Sampson, he stops each, and every time we walk past her house. (Even on those days where we stopped on the way up, he will try and stop on the way back.)

I can usually tell when the odds are good of Miss Karen being outside, because the garage door will be open. If it’s closed, I know she’s not out. But Sampson doesn’t read those signs, he still maintains that we are at Miss Karen’s house, and she should be outside. (As an aside, he’s now made friends with Miss Karen’s husband, as well as her daughter and son-in-law, who also live there.)

So he stops. And waits. Sometimes that patience pays off, and sometimes it does not.

Now you’re up to speed, and I can tell you what happened on Wednesday.

When we got to Miss Karen’s the garage doors were closed, but her car was in the drive way, and it was running. Sampson slowed down as we walked past the driveway, but I told him, “She’s not out, Buddy.”

So he walked past the driveway, past the bushes in front, and started heading towards the area of the house where we’d last seen her. He took about four steps, and laid down.

I couldn’t get him to budge.

He laid in the grass, staring at the front door, as if he could will her to come out.

After about five minutes, Miss Liz (Miss Karen’s daughter) came out, and naturally came right up to Sampson to show him some love. Shortly after that, Miss Liz’s husband, (Thibault)  came out, and he also came up to Sampson to share the love.  They were leaving for a walk, so after a couple of minutes, they said their goodbyes, which apparently was enough for Sampson, as he popped up and was ready to head home.

That’s when he hit the mother lode.

As we made to pass the driveway, Miss Karen and Mr. Ray got out of the car. (It’s a new car to them, and they were trying to figure a couple of things out.)

Sampson was thrilled (of course) and hurried over to greet her. I shared the story with her of how he refused to budge, and showed her the picture, as well as making sure it was okay to share it here.

She said something along the lines of “Sampson waiting for two of his favorite Q-tips.” 🙂 And we both had a good laugh.

The patience of a dog when (s)he really wants something is amazing. 

You make me laugh (or smile), the sweet, funny, loving things dogs do that make us laugh or smile.

What did your pet do this week that made you laugh or smile? What does your pet have patience for?

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