Squeaker

The fabric ones in different sizes and shapes are OK.  Balls are the absolute best!  Especially rubber ones with good bounce.  Squeaky toys that is.  Our Reilly dog is what many would call “Obsessed” with squeaky toys.

Ever since he was a pup Reilly dog has been a fetch fanatic.  He will literally play fetch for hours if we let him.  We often have to take the ball from him and make him rest or get a drink.  He’s pretty smart as well, knowing Tyler or I usually have time to play with him in the evenings, he will excitedly bounce between us looking for the sign or listening for the words “play ball.”  And a rubber ball with a good squeaker in it, well that might as well be a Ribeye to this pup.

So why are you reading a blog about a dog’s obsession with squeaky fetch balls?  Well, as normal in my writing I had an experience a few weeks ago that has had me pondering Reilly dog and his squeaky ball focus.

Like many dog owners, we have 2 dogs or they have us, not sure which. Our other dog Maize is also a Rat Terrier and her and Reilly come from the same breeder but they are completely opposite in style. While Reilly is a fine-tuned athlete and I truly believe he could give Usain Bolt a good run in the 100 and jumps 4+ feet from a standstill, Maize is smaller and certainly not athletically gifted, preferring slower walks and softer laps to runs and jumps. So imagine our surprise a few weeks ago when we had her in the yard and she sprinted off in chase of a rabbit. Sprinted right through our woods and off of our property, disappearing from site.

Of course, panic set in and if you have experienced a lost pet you can understand the fear.  I quickly grabbed Reilly and told him to go find his sister.  I also grabbed a squeaky toy in the hopes Maize would hear the sound and make a path back home.  As I stumbled through the overgrown areas of our woods and all while squeaking the toy I also was telling Reilly “Go find Maize, Find her Reilly.”  Several minutes into the panicked search I noticed something.

Reilly was following me.  Closely and very intently.  He wasn’t doing his Bloodhound work to track her or his Lassie like hero efforts to rescue her.  Instead, the reason he was closely following me through brush and obstacles was the squeaky toy I realized.  Every time I squeaked to try and attract Maize, Reilly would inch closer, gaze focused on me and the ball, oblivious to branches and briars. Michelle finally located Maize in an open lot, a little scared but no worse for wear. I tossed the squeaky toy into our yard and Reilly quickly sprinted like normal to grab it. 

I thought a lot about that as our fear and panic eased. What in my life am I that 100% focused and locked in on like Reilly that not even rough obstacles distract me or the panic or stress around me deters me? Are the things that I am locked in on the right things?

Like so many of my posts the focus should be pointing us all to the important things.  My family, my faith, those around me.  Hebrews 12:2 speaks of “looking to Jesus , the Author and Finisher of our faith. . . “ If anything should have my focus and attention then someone who is my author and finisher should have it.  But I often find myself more like Maize, content to plod along and then without warning, wandering offtrack on a wild chase and find myself lost in the woods.

Think of Reilly dog locked in on a squeaky ball.  Think of what and where you can focus, obsess even, like him and make sure it’s the right place. Oh, and next time you see a good squeaky ball let me know and I will add it to Reilly’s collection.