Follow Your Master

Growing up, we always had two dogs, a couple of cats, and we went through a spell where we kept Mallard ducks. My family lived out in the country, and when you live out in the country that is what you do – have animals.

So after Wade and I built a house out in the country several years ago, I decided we needed a dog. (The cat quota was filled at the time.) All kids need to experience the love of a dog growing up, right? Because we had beef cattle, Wade said if we were really going to get a dog (Yes, we were, I had already decided…), then we needed to pick a breed that worked well with cows. In his mind he already knew – Australian cattle dog (aka, blue heeler or red heeler).

I really didn’t care. I knew I had talked him into getting a dog “for the kids.” However, I did start doing research on this breed and realized it wasn’t your regular ole’ Golden Retriever or otherwise, family-friendly-just-lay-around-at-my-feet-and-let-me-pet-you dog. Descriptive terms such as “boundless energy” and “becomes easily bored and gets into mischief” and “immense work drive” were used when I looked up the ACD breed. I didn’t care. All I knew was after sixteen years of marriage, I was at long last getting my wish to have a dog.

Jax was an active bundle of joy from the time we got him…he never slowed down. Because he was a herder, if you tried running outside with him, he nipped your ankles. When you tried petting him, he would instantly be overstimulated and wanted to lick and chew on your hand. He LOVED everyone…so much that he would inevitably jump on them and leave a puddle. On occasion this landed on shoes or a purse. Good thing he was cute. 😏

The day came when I felt I could unquestionably take him out in public and enroll him in training classes. Poor Jax needed them. We all did.

Signing up at a local PetSmart, he was in a class with a group of all female dogs. Immediately, he threw himself on the floor and let “the girls” know he would gladly let them be the Alpha. Training classes were a highlight for his week.

Each week we had homework assignments such as how to help our dogs be calm and let them know we were in charge. However, my wild dog Jax did not understand. It must have been like Greek to him. Even after our multiple daily walks and games of fetch, he had too much energy.

On the day in training class we were teaching them to sit, I could NOT get him to do it. The trainer came by to see how we were doing. I showed her how he wasn’t getting it. Then she took the leash and performed the moves she had instructed us. Guess what? He sat. No problem for her.

Throughout the classes those months, I understood Jax knew who the real boss was. I would try to get him to walk past the cat food in the store without sniffing it, and he would pull me toward it to see if there were any delectable crumbs on the floor. But when the trainer walked him? Totally different dog.

I got it. I understood. He knew by instinct that she was the head. He sensed she was the true leader of the pack.

As Christians, I wonder if we always remember who is the leader. Oh, we know Who we are supposed to be following. But the thing is, if we were all following Jesus like we should, then wouldn’t we all be unity? Wouldn’t our lives look differently if Jesus was our Head? (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Too many times we throw ourselves down at the feet of the world.

Too many times we don’t stay focused on our goal in this life, and the crumbs of the world entice us. (Colossians 3:2)

How about you? Who are you following every day, all day? As a child of God, we instinctively know He is our Alpha and Omega. (Revelation 1:8) He is our Master. Let us submit to our Father. 💕

Jax’s outcome? Eventually, he and I worked out the whole “mama is boss” thing. He graduated from training classes (with a cap and certificate!!). He has become one of the most obedient dogs I’ve known. At six years old, he finally calmed down this past year. I actually get to pet my boy like he was a “normal” dog now. Yay! He is still the friendliest fellow and lets the female dogs dominate. 😉