Harry the Sighthound: Respectful Love and "Dogness"

Harry is genuinely one of the loveliest and wisest dogs that I have met. I remember him golden and stretched out serenely on the sofa in a patch of sun, and I swear he has the energy of - and I know this might be niche but bear with - ... Aslan from Narnia. His personal magic feels knowing and honest, and I think comes partly from the fact that he is a dog who has been so wholly and respectfully loved for every part of himself. As we walked through a clearing of trees one autumn afternoon, Harry’s guardian, Annie, stopped with me to watch Harry slowly pick his way through the grass. Hackles up, ears pricked, one foot poised and eyes unblinking, he was entirely in his element hunting squirrels (though we did wonder if this was more a game to him than a true hunt). Annie confessed to me that this was a regular part of his daily walk and that she loved watching him in this zone (though she also always made sure to crucially note squirrel escape routes!), as it was here particularly that she could see his nature fulfilled and appreciate his 'dogness'. Being the subject of such attentiveness and compassion - entangled in a relationship of mutual respect - I think is what has granted Harry his voice and is what enables him to fill a room with such a steady, secure presence. This is a dog who has lived and been loved for what he is for a lifetime. Harry and Annie, to me, are a joyful example of how dogs - and in fact all companion species - and humans can bring life and power to oneself and one another in their relationships.