Is she my owner or my mother?

She is my Ur-god.  The person whose nose and upper lip I lick with the most abandon.  The person I sleep next to every night.  The person who feeds me, and who picks the foxtails from my paws.  I am a great non-verbal communicator, but she is my voice.

Is she my mother?

She takes care of me.  As the mother of my brothers, logically she would be my mom as well.  Yet, given the species issue, it seems a bit twee to claim parent-child status.

Though I've referred to her here as my owner, the connotations of slavery always make me wince.  I am a free dog. 

Maybe I should refer to her as my holder.  That suggests more of a voluntary situation.  And she does in fact hold me a lot.

Reader suggestions are welcome.   In the meantime I may experiment with different appellations to see what feels most natural.

Comments

[Lambie]

No, maybe it doesn't sound cutesie.
You are very helpful!

[Lambie]

Interesting thought. I will try it and see how it feels. I'm worried that it might still be a bit cutesie.
xo
Lambie

[Thomas Stigler]

Great post lambie! Have you seen the movie "Bolt"? In it, the main character (a small white dog, not unlike yourself) refers to his human companion as "my person"

Just food for thought..