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What Is REAL?

2 wet brown newfoundland dogs

A few weeks ago my mom gave me a framed gift of a quote from one of my favorite childhood books, The Velveteen Rabbit. 

I know that the quote was meant for me as a reminder of who I am but I also couldn’t help but think of Sherman and Leroy. 

It seems like so long ago that they were young and perfect. 

A 1/4 of their life they were young and 3/4’s of their life they were aging gracefully. 

I remember these times the most because they are the times that I really cherished.

Not that I didn’t cherish the times when they were younger but they were more real when they were older as we all are. 

Every limp and every obstacle, they were more real to me. 

And as my life moves forward without them, I have no regrets.

I loved them hard and I loved them long.

They made me part of the person I am today and they paved the way for future Newfies in my life. 

I think this quote by my favorite rabbit of all time describes us and our Newfies perfectly. (the quote wasn’t by the rabbit but by the Skin Horse but you get my drift)

They are not a breed for everyone because of how real they are and how real they make us. 

“What is REAL?”

“Real isn’t how you are made. It’s a thing that happens to you.

When a child loves you for a long, long time not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL.

Does it hurt?

Sometimes.

When you are REAL you don’t mind being hurt.

Does it happen all at once or bit by bit?

It doesn’t happen all at once.

You become.

It takes a long time. 

That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or have to be carefully kept. 

Generally, by the time you are REAL, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. 

But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are REAL you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand. ”

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

There’s so many hidden messages in that quote and I’m sure each of us will pick up and relate to different parts of it depending on our story but it sticks with me and I wanted to share it with you <3

 

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Jan K

Sunday 1st of March 2020

I love puppies and I love young dogs, but there is something ever so special about seniors that you have loved for so many years. Beautiful words!! ♥♥♥

Ducky's Mom

Thursday 27th of February 2020

Just shows how much older than you I am, but that's ok...I never heard of the book before now. Yet the quote does resonate with me - and my life with all my past dogs and with Ducky. This little girl pushes my buttons and pulls on my heart strings multiple times daily, sometimes doing both at the same time.

Pim Witley Gilmore

Thursday 27th of February 2020

Tears of joy love and remembering all my pupstars that are gone but always with me. Jen you always have the perfect way to convey it. One of my favorite books as well <3 Pim

Lisa

Thursday 27th of February 2020

This speaks to me. I have a 1 year old Newf and she's been my biggest challenge as a dog owner. Very difficult to housetrain, countersurfs like a maniac, and (worst of all) jumps on everyone gleefully. The jumping has caused a lot of very bad consequences to me and other people including fear/panic and injuries. I now have a permanent scar above my left eyebrow from a concrete face plant I did when she launched herself to greet a neighbor. We're still in training daily and she's getting there. I can tell that my friends/family think she's too much for me and that maybe I should rehome her. I remember a Newf breeder telling me once that she thinks people give up on this breed too easily. And it's true. Their normal puppy behaviors which would be mildly annoying in a small/medium dog can be disastrous. But I love her with all my heart and I will NEVER give up on her even if do end up "shabby".

Mona A

Thursday 27th of February 2020

I reread The Velveteen Rabbit every few years; that’s how important those words are to me. Love how you’ve melded it into your life w Sherman and Leroy. My heart aches & my tears flow, but I’m smiling through it just as I know you are. Peace☮️?

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