Michael feels things intensely. This makes him very astute regarding literature, human relations, and spiritual things. It also makes him sensitive to pain and joy, spiritual and physical. One of the upshots is his enjoyment -- and also fear -- of our animals. He adores the cats, and has a relationship with them (especially with Jack) like no-one else in the household. But he's still a bit wary of them: once bitten, twice shy, as they say.
All this has engendered a complex beginning to the Michael-Josie relationship. Ever since we were even discussing getting a dog, he was worried about how that would affect the cats: they would be susceptible to danger, and also they would take second place in the animal hierarchy. His misgivings were partially allayed by conversations with the New Skete monks, but in fact the fears were not unfounded. We're still working on getting Josie not to lunge at the cats, and she definitely gets more attention than they do -- she is a puppy, after all. Furthermore Michael's approach to Josie has been very careful and awkward. For weeks, despite my insistence, we watched the following cycle play out: Michael keeps his hand tauntingly above her head so that it wouldn't get nipped, which of course plays into Josie's lunge and nip reflex, which results in more fear, etc.
But things are changing. Several factors -- time, the Cape Cod trip, observing us and Sarah (puppy Kindergarten) working with Josie -- have conspired to instill in Michael considerably more confidence. He's more assertive with her, and here we come full circle, because he's taken a leading role in training her to ignore the cats. When Jack or Cinder are around, he becomes very (appropriately) authoritative with Josie showing her what's right, manipulating her with conviction. And she's listening to him.
Watching the kids interact with her, and learn about life through her, has been a real joy.
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