Seems Familiar Somehow

[stoutfellow]

I'm currently reading Mary Doria Russell's Dreamers of the Day. When I encountered the following passage, I immediately thought of norabombay:

Most dogs, when they meet your eyes, intend to intimidate you. For example, when a collie stares, he is giving an order: Be quiet, you! Go stand in that group where you belong! All the world's a flock of sheep, to a collie.

Not so with dachshunds. Dachshunds gaze. When a dachshund like Rosie looks softly into your eyes, her sweet expression seems to say that you are the most important person she has ever met in her whole life. Moreover, she considers it a high honor and distinct privilege to be your pet. She's only being nice. Within that absurd tubular body beats the heart of a princess. She gazes at you to demonstrate the very devotion she expects, but she is also issuing a warning: If you leave me home alone, you'll be sorry.

Abandon a dachshund and upon your return, you may well be confronted with a small token of her displeasure. This, for the dachshund, is an undignified but necessary form of training. Eventually, you will learn your lesson, which is to take her with you everywhere. When you have finally accepted this, you will be generously rewarded for your good behavior by a jaunty, joyful companion.