This guy makes me laugh every day.
Every damned day.
He doesn't judge me, and he just wants to be with me.
His trust and loyalty are total.
When he walks off the lead, usually on the beach, he looks back at me every 15 seconds. Not with absolute timing precision, but not far off.
He loves 'training games' and is extremely well trained and obedient (but I don't do show-off 'party tricks' or enter him in competitions - if I tell him to do something, or not to do it, there'll be a reason, even if the reason is training).
And here's the really weird thing. I can give him entirely new instructions, which he's never heard before, and he'll quite often understand it, and do it. Clearly not long, convoluted sentences but short commands including one idea. If he doesn't understand, he lets me know - standing, front legs slightly apart, staring at me intently, head on one side, furrowed brow.
I think we're only just beginning to understand what the relationship with dogs can do for us. Our previous dog (looked very similar but was very different in character) worked as a Therapy Dog for years, specialising in Autistic children. She could pick someone on the spectrum out of a crowd.
Those of us with ASD spend a lot of time focusing on our inability to understand people, or be understood by them.
I don't have that issue with this guy.
I just don't.
