Litter to Life, or a Tail of Two Dogs

  i was thinking how early experiences shape us.
  My dog, Puppy, was originally in a large, loving, rowdy family.  But she's not especially assertive.
  She comes to life with the notion that People are Good - Doors are Evil.
  i think she was the last one out a few times and, unnoticed, got hit by the door.
  People, in her world, come in three varieties:
               - Friends/Fans she knows
               - Friends/Fans she doesn't know yet
               -  and What's the Matter with You?
                                         (gotta be you - it can't be Me???)

  Today in PetSmart, the customer behind me had a well--behaved pitbull type dog.  The dog was well-known to the two staffers behind the counter.  The owner shared that his dog had obeyed "down" for him, and the staffers, rejoicing over their pupil's progress,  debated which of the two trainers the dog had done that for first.
  The owner told me that the dog had been rescued from a dogfighting ring.

  i don't remember the rest of the converstation.  It was short and upbeat, circumstances being what they were.  i didn't mention my dog.
  But as i left, i thought how "Lucky" was not only well-behaved (four on the floor at all times!), but totally uninterested in any of us mere humans.
  Maybe because of the prior treatment from humans?

  Hardly profound thoughts today, but i found them vividly illustrated in these two canines.