Can You Love a Dog Too Much?

This morning when I went to the gym I ran into my friend Susan who said, “I wish you would give up the blog about food and just have a blog about Shay Shay.” Now maybe I am not remembering that quite right. She could have said, “…have Shay Shay write a blog.” For full disclosure, Susan has a dachshund who is featured prominently in her Facebook, so it was not news to me that she would like a dog blog everyday.
Later in the day I got a picture from my friend Sheppy of her new labradoodle puppy, Peppermint. Sheppy had read so much about Shay Shay in this blog that she decided she needed one of her cousins for herself. Thankfully our breeder did not make Sheppy fly in from Nashville for an interview to see if she was worthy since she was recommended by both me and Sara Pottenger.

Sara has another one of Shay’s cousins, Brady.  She said to me just yesterday that she hopes she out lives Brady because she can’t imagine life without him.  I hope that they both stick around for at least the next 35 years.

This afternoon my friend Christy brought my Christmas present over. She had gotten me something in July and could not wait another minute to give it to me. She figured we were close enough to Christmas for me to open it. I had to hold back the tears when I unwrapped the perfect portrait of Shay Shay. So as I sit on the sofa, trying to type on my iPad with the real Shay resting her head on my arm I am gazing at the darling picture of Shay that now sits on the bookshelf.
Obviously the answer to my question, “Can you love a dog too much?” is absolutely not. There is no way I can ever love this dog as much as she loves me. Never mad when I leave her home alone or drag her out in the rain to do her business. She may not be happy, but does not hold it against me.  
Russ is going to love this painting of Shay as much as I do and I think we might as well not try and give each other anything for Christmas because nothing will top this gift from Christy.