As much as they make me want to hang them both by their toes when Little Girl throws her toys outside her corral (over and over and over and over again no matter how many times and how many ways and how many tones in which I have said NO!) because she wants to share with Melody and Melody takes them and I find them later with teeth marks in them, those two melt my heart over and over again.

For instance, right now Little Girl is in her room taking a nap and Melody is asleep in the hall just outside her door.

Last night, we were in Little Girl’s “corral” playing with her and Melody was outside the gates whining and sad because she wanted to be with her family. So, I broke down and let her in since we were there to supervise. Of course, she immediately started trying to chew Little Girl’s toys, so I had to grab one of her chew flips to keep her busy. Little Girl will take the toys or the flips or whatever right out of Melody’s mouth and Melody does nothing. She just lets her. No snaps. No growls. Just quiet acceptance. The same goes for the times that Little Girl pulls and yanks on her. Sometimes it’s her tail. Sometimes, like last night, she grabs her by the haunches and pulls her down into sitting position. And again, Melody does nothing but quietly accept the torture.

Then Little Girl escaped her corral and Melody, as she always does when she thinks Little Girl is trying to get away from us, takes off after her and tries to herd her back to where she belongs. She mouths at her (but never bites). She nips at her heels (but never hard enough to hurt her). And Little Girl either goes in the opposite direction, pushes her away, or laughs and shoves her hand into Melody’s mouth. She never gets upset or fussy - she just quietly accepts Melody’s presence and behavior for what it seems to be - loving protection and companionship.

The other dogs rarely barked by the time Little Girl came along. Melody, on the other hand, barks quite frequently (at all hours of the day and night :P). So Little Girl has added the word “woof!”to her vocabulary. The other night, I heard the garage door open, signaling that Mike was home. I said, “Who’s here?” Little Girl quickly scanned the room, saw the puppy, and said “Woof!” She sees a picture of one of the other dogs and she says, “Woof!” She sees a picture of a dog in the newspaper, or on tv or in a book and she says, “Woof!”

Melody has taught her a new vocabulary word. Little Girl has taught Melody how to watch over someone. And they’ve both taught me that love comes in all shapes, sizes and languages. The language of love between a little girl and a small puppy is not that of words but of acceptance, tolerance, kisses and companionship. And really that’s the very best kind.

Little Girl is the light of our lives. But Melody has mended the edges of our hearts that were tattered and torn when our other dogs left us. We have been blessed by both of them.