My canine friend a companion, protector

I don’t mean to brag on my dog B.J. It’s just that he is really smart. He understands most of what I say to him. For example, “Go around back. … Get the ticks off Daisy. … Are you ready to go outside?”

B.J. is mostly Red Australian Heeler. He has a coat of healthy red fur because I feed him dog food containing real lamb and rice. He senses if I do not like someone or if they are friends. He recognizes the sound of all the cars of relatives from a mile away and is always wagging his tail to greet them.

B.J. was brought to me when he was a young, very badly abused dog. He had been kicked, stoned, and beaten with farm tools. He cowered or ducked when anyone tried to pet him. After being fed well and deciding I was not going to hurt him, he responded to good treatment. He is affectionate and has a great sense of humor. He never bothers anything in the house, won’t even try to eat dog food from an open sack.

He is always ready to defend me if anyone behaves in a threatening manner, but he is otherwise friendly to people.

Today, he is my companion and protector. He stays with me and is at my side always. He has killed copperheads that were in my pathway. In dog years, B.J. is about as old as I am in human years. I take care of him, and he watches out for me.

He sleeps on a mat on our enclosed back porch. He is very alert to unusual sounds and will bark to warn us. He barks to be let in or out, except mornings. He knows we sleep late sometimes, so he waits until we get up to let him out.

Many people who have done work for us — roofers, carpenters, tree trimmers, and various maintenance guys — have said they would like to have him or a pup like him.

I have to tell them he is one of a kind.

— Louis Houston is a resident of Siloam Springs. His book “The Grape-Toned Studebaker” is available locally and from Amazon. com. Send any questions or comments to louis1931@ gmail.com or call 524-6926. The opinions expressed are those of the author.