Till death do us part

Once upon a time in the far off days when I was growing up we had a dog, Chummy, a sort of Heinz 67 variety sheep dog. In the days when "we were so much less precious" he was simply a dog. He was loved and cared for but had a life of his own. He would slip away and go walkabout exploring the village and the fields on his own. He wasn't cosseted, he was a dog.
When he became ill we took him to the vet but in the case of a serious illness we knew that he would have to be put down, as much to save him the pain as to save us the expense. He was a dog !
Today owning a dog has become like adopting a child. The authorities have a responsibility to the dog and your parenting skills are checked out. Does "your profile" fit that of the dog.
Would you be able to exercise the dog since in this day and age we do not let the dog wander off to fend for himself rather we tether ourselves to the dog with a lead and plod, each morning and evening behind our shaggy friend learning his needs. Talk about the tail wagging the dog, the dog has us well and truly nailed as we take on the daily rigour of walkies come hail or shine.
Of course, he or she is a great companion and one accepts that a dogs temperament is so much more amenable than ours, it seems to be one of simplified love. Not  the crazy zig zag up and down of human love with its highs and lows and its interminable self justification. No a dogs pleasure is there for all to see with a tail which gives the show away every time.
Whitey our Bull Terrier would hide behind the long curtains if he knew he was in my bad books but his tail sticking out from under the curtain couldn't resist wagging when I walked into the room, giving the show away and destroying any animosity, how could you be mad with such a loyal idiot.
Considering a dog as a companion is a bit like asking a girl for her hand in marriage, it's a commitment, 'till death do you part'.  You agree to feed, house  and treat the dog with love and respect and in return, he/she has to lick your hand and refrain from chasing the next door cat. You have to foot the veterinary bills, and walk the dog in all weathers in return for a canine grin and a bit of tail thumping when you get home. We transfer our brains into our dog to interpret our love for the dog, as his love for us and, having accomplished that task the marriage is complete and we are well and truly under his paw.