44 Comments
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Sasja Chomos's avatar

Best thing I’ve read on the internet in the last month! Thank you. I’m going to go cuddle my dog now 🥰

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

❤️

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Jamie Clark's avatar

There is something fundamentally wrong with anyone who does not like dogs. This made my day to read.

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kerryanndunn's avatar

My dog is named Mick, after the character Mick Kelly in Carson McCuller's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" which is the book I was reading when I rescued her from the literal streets (she was a stray in my office parking lot). She is almost fifteen years old and the best thing that EVER happened to me, and I have a husband and a child. She's still better than them because she came into my life before they did and she pieced my heart back together which made it open for love from a man and a child. So, I get it. Dogs are the greatest thing to happen to humankind.

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Maleia Cheney's avatar

I look forward to your columns every single week. We are so very very alike and also completely different. You always make me smile. And that is the point.

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

Awww thank you so much ❤️

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Connie Ordway's avatar

Okay Jonathan, I'm taking you at your word here... I've now Googled "dogs in sweaters" and I'll be checking my social media feed in 3... 2... 1...

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

You might have to click on a shopping link to give the algo a little nudge lol

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Terri Eichholz's avatar

Everything I read by you seems like a better version of what I would have written myself. And this piece mirrored my feelings so well that I just had to tell you thank you for voicing what is in my brain so much more eloquently than I ever can.

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

I’m here to help

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Maleia Cheney's avatar

This is what I was also trying to say in my comment!

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Tara Murphy's avatar

Love this. As a huge fan of sweet Samwise and the mighty Chewbacca, you chose the perfect examples of dog energy and perfection. My chocolate lab Harley is snoozing on his dog bed under the dining room table, so I am just gonna get down on the floor, give him a kiss, and tell him about your essay.

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Elaine Hall Passaro's avatar

I've loved all your dogs as well...every one of them. I don't think you mentioned the mastiffs' names but they were Gracie and Hobbes. They were indeed the gentle giants. And I never saw a dog that could catch a ball like Gracie could. She would never tire of playing ball. And there was never a door that Hobbsie couldn't open. I just loved this article you wrote, the best thing I have read in a long time too. I agree with one of your comments, you can judge a person by how dogs and babies like them.

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Katie's avatar

Thank you for mentioning the mastiffs' names. I came to the comments section to ask what their names were. All good boys and girls deserve recognition! ☺️

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Sarah Childs's avatar

Love all dogs too. We lost ours of almost 16 years on New years Day and now I have to go pet EVERY dog I see.

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

Pet them ALL

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Elle Emme's avatar

Your writings are the highlight of my day. Thank-you.

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

Thank you for reading!

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Kris Jackson's avatar

Sitting here with a dog on my lap and one beside me (I posted a note a few minutes ago). No matter how long they’re with us, it’s never long enough. 🩵

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

So very true

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Kim Wooster's avatar

Your writing always makes my day better

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

❤️

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Philip Whiteland's avatar

Love it. We're just about to adopt a dog, again, and I'm so looking forward to all of that

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Jonathan Edward Durham's avatar

How exciting!

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Philip Whiteland's avatar

It's just frustrating that we had a break already booked so we can't adopt until after that :-( Entirely agree about dogs, though.

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Linda Elaine Lucas's avatar

Woof!

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Dr Kerry King's avatar

Uplifting, touching, funny and eloquent. This was gold - 'So lucky for us, we adopted a machine that eats stress and shits love and thinks we’re some combination of god and spouse and best friend and soulmate. And by the way, it’s adorable. Oh, and also it will protect you with its life. Oh, and don’t tell anyone, but if you rub its ears, that’s how you get the serotonin out.' Thank you.

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Katie's avatar

I loved this sweet story. Thank you for sharing.

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