We’ve met over the years, usually in brief encounters during late spring in our neighborhood. It would typically be a few minutes, with me watching him from a few dozen yards away, wearing a friendly smile and an admiring gaze.
He ran, he jumped, and he was always busy with his work. I often wondered if he even ever noticed me. But that wasn’t important, neither for him nor for me. In our lives, we come across people like this. We barely know each other, yet we have a sense of mutual respect and maintain a safe social distance. We call each other acquaintances.
One early Saturday morning a few days ago, while my husband and I were heading out for some yard work, we spotted him sitting on the grass by the curb in front of our house. He was facing away from us, gazing into the distance. His whole body was relaxed, as if at leisure. Next to him was a small four-wheeled cart filled with gardening tools.
“Hello! Hello!” my husband tried to greet him.
His ears twitched slightly, signaling that he had heard us, but he barely moved his body, telling us that he did not care of my husband’s high piched frendly greetings.
I chuckled and decided to employ my usual trick. I slowly walked towards him, maintaining a warm and caring gaze directed at his back. For some indescribable reason, he gradually turned his head back and looked at me.
(By the way, I always felt a strange sensation everytime when this trick worked, especially most of time I did not even move. And I alway kept worndering for a shortwhile aftermath that whether it was me or the responsed party possesd a bigger psychy power.)
He paused, giving me another look, and then suddenly stood up and walked towards me. Finally, he calmly nudged my legs and slowly lifted his face, expressing a mix of contempt and tolerance, as if to say, “Alright, I’ll allow you to pet me. Isn’t that what you’ve wanted all along?”
It was a powerful unspoken message conveyed through his eyes and body language, leaving me slightly astonished.
I began to stroke his head and neck gently. He continued to maintain his strong posture, as if he tolerated my touch more than he enjoyed it coming from a stranger. He truly is an unusual creature.
A couple of minutes later, he suddenly lay down on the ground and raised his left front paw to touch my right arm to offer a handshake. I exclaimed in surprise, but he didn’t retract his paw, so I held it long enough for a picture to be taken. Then I let go.
I continued to pet him for a few more minutes until his owner returned from setting up fences for our neighborhood’s annual grass cleaning, which would be done by their flock of sheep or goats.
This Border Collie dog has always excelled at his work, helping the large flock stay in the right places and move in the right directions upon his master’s command.
Over the years, I’ve observed him work smartly and loyally with his masters, and his intelligence never ceases to impress me.
During our latest encounter, he communicated with me on a level that felt like a sixth sense. His message was so powerful that I can’t help but wonder if I’m already qualified as a dog whisperer.
