A dog'gone good time in Niagara Falls

Worried that the dogs were watching too much television during the week-ends, we decided to take them to Niagara Falls today. It is interesting to take note of the differing reactions to the girls. We try to be very sensitive when we take Juno out as occasionally people assign Rottweilers unwarranted personality traits. By looking at Juno, one would not realize that the Dachshund regularly beats her up and that our Rottie tries to smush herself into our laps on a daily basis. Niagara Falls is a hotbed for international sightseeing and gaudy, useless souvenir shopping combined with the fun of paying too much for parking. The dogs, naturally, loved it. Brad, Savannah and I had mixed feelings.

Having spent much of our lives in the culturally homogenized fishbowl that is Wyoming County, we work hard NOT to typecast our fellow planet-dwellers but there was no way to avoid it in this particular situation. Forget about race, religion and ethnicity.  Essentially, when it comes to dogs, all people can be divided into three categories while making some concessions for small sub-divisions.

Category one includes the dog-fanciers. They were easy to spot as their faces lit up with delight the moment they spotted our dogs. The sub-divisions of this category allow for the small-dog-lovers and the big-dog-lovers.  Chlo, obviously, was the recipient of the largest percentage of public adoration but, to her credit, she was a "big" enough dog to be happy for Juno when someone stopped to pet the Rottweiler as well. Savannah had to pause at one point for Juno to be used as a puppy prop at the request of two women who thought that our dog would accentuate their photograph of The Horseshoe Falls. One sweet little girl shyly asked permission to pet Juno and gratefully accepted a sloppy bologna-tongued kiss from our happy dog.

Category two includes the dog-haters. These are an obnoxiously passionate group of people. Sub-division A is at least forgivable. Anyone who has ever had an unpleasant experience with a dog may have developed an understandable sense of trepidation upon encountering one. Please realize that the Mosimans do not make a habit of letting their Rottweiler ran rampant in public nor do we encourage her to accost strangers. At all times, Juno is leashed tightly to our side. Sub-division B are the idiots (I do not use this term loosely) who have ignorantly preconceived notions that dogs are dirty, unfit companions. You are welcome to your personal beliefs but to let out a juvenile shriek in a public place designed for ALL to enjoy when I am simply out walking my dog and enjoying the day is ridiculous. We received two shrieks, several jumps out of our way, and one father tackled his child as he toddled towards us.

Category three are the apathetics. They could care less about us which suits the humans in our group just fine but utterly devastates Chlo.  The sub-division of this particular category includes the people who are apathetic to the point that they could consume canine without flinching. This also devastates Chlo.

It was an interesting lesson in human behavior. You know that saying...the more I know about people, the more I like my dogs? It's true more often than not. I enjoy spending time with someone who is loving, lovable and accepting. My dogs do not work to alienate others or judge without cause.  While Brad, Savannah and I were intermittently annoyed during our visit to Niagara Falls, the dogs had a delightful time.

There were bunnies and squirrels. They splashed through puddles, sat in the shade and watched the river roll by. I can learn so much about being happy from my dogs. The first lesson: spend time with those who make you happy.