Must Really, Really Love Dogs

While I haven’t found any valid scientific studies on a dog’s ability to intuitively judge a person’s character, it’s a hot topic in the blog-o-sphere and on various dating sites (trust me, I Googled it).  I’m not sure if animals can intuitively size someone up and make a determination as to whether they are good or evil, but I can guarantee that Huckleberry, my dog, can not.

Huckleberry is a two-year-old beagle with enough cuteness and spunk to make up for his total lack of brains and good judgment.  He’s my best friend, so I keep him around even though he likes to roll in horse poop and bury things in the litter box. Unlike my human best friends, I would never ask Huckleberry’s opinion on a guy–he thinks they are all great (especially if they smell bad). However, I do shamelessly use him to help me meet guys.

Huckleberry helped me meet nearly all of my outside-of-work friends in Connecticut: two sets of “marrieds,” a Marine, and various animal-loving girls.  We met one guy at the Branford Dog Park, but his girlfriend made him stop talking to me a few months later. Initially, I wasn’t sure why; I have a very strict “no flirting with unavailable men” policy that I follow to the letter. However, he stopped talking to me right after he asked me to download the “Words with Friends” App on my phone, so I think that must have had something to do with it.  You know a man that asks you to play Scrabble with him is only after one thing. I guess if I had a man, I wouldn’t want him playing Scrabble with strange girls from the dog park either. Even so, my phone isn’t smart enough for the “Words with Friends” App and I haven’t played Scrabble in years.

Once I discovered the , Huckleberry and I started going there several times a week. One day another beagle and his cute computer technician owner enthusiastically greeted us. The beagles chased each other and howled while the Computer Guy and I talked. Talking to fellow beagle owners is easy, it’s like we all belong to the same support group.  Even after twenty minutes, I know that neither of us had listed everything that our respective beagle puppies destroyed: cell phones, remote controls, window blinds, sofas, and mattresses–we had barely scratched the surface!

We decided it would be fun to continue the conversation later and agreed to meeting up again. I didn’t have my phone on me, since it had been chewed to pieces, and I was still waiting for the replacement to arrive, so, he handed me his business card.  It said, Something Computer Something in Something Haven, Connecticut–or something like that. I put the card into my pocket and continued walking.

Driving home, I felt Huck nosing around my jacket pockets. I pushed him away and told him to stop sneaking treats, but it wasn’t until I pulled into my driveway that I realized the business card was gone. I searched all over the car to no avail; Huckleberry had eaten Computer Guy’s number!

I haven’t seen him since, but I know exactly what I’ll say if I do, “Hey Computer Guy, I met you at the Supply Ponds last fall. Sorry I never called, my beagle ate your business card.” I know he’ll understand. Beagle owners just get it.

Of course, if you buy into the animals judging character, maybe Huckleberry was just looking out for my best interests. Maybe he didn’t want to see the Computer Guy break my heart.

I doubt it, though.