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Brooklyn Rebellion Dogs: The Tilo Complex
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a blogumn by Shante Paradigm

Tilo and Friends
One of the most wonderful aspects of having a dog is seeing her or him express joy. Tilo is one of those dogs who loves to run and wrestle with other dogs. He’s especially fascinating to watch when he runs: ears back, mouth pulled back into a wide grin, sleek brindle and white body outrunning almost all the dogs in the park. My little guy is completely exuberant. At other times, he’s completely serious as he surveys the park looking for dogs, people or situations that annoy him.
I’m actually quite pleased with Tilo’s complexity. There are many dogs who’ve had their complexity bred out of them for the purposes of domestication and making them easier and more predictable as pets. Tilo is absolutely a domesticated animal, and he also wears the alert, mistrustful scars of an abused dog. However, at just over two years old, he’s becoming a mature, discerning, protective and fun-loving dog.
I’ve been enjoying his play with puppies (he;s quite good with them and human babies). He’ll allow them to stick their noses, heads, tongues, faces in his mouth, all the while doing what i call the “annoyed growl,” nothing mean or dangerous, just telling them “chill out little dude or dudette.” But he let’s them bother him anyway. One dog, Suki, has wormed her way into Tilo’s heart — basically, she just pestered him until she wore him down and now, they are becoming sweet friends.
My dog isn’t perfect. As a matter of fact, my trainer recently told me that I am a perfectionist and need to give up the dream that Tilo will ever be free of behavioral issues. She went on to say that she couldn’t believe he was the same dog she met a year ago. Yeah, neither can I.