Peter Ivanovich, a man dedicated to the military for his entire life, was known for his strict demeanor. He envisioned the ideal dog to be large and potentially intimidating. For him, a dog that couldn’t stand up for its owner was useless. When his grown daughter, Tanya, excitedly informed him over the phone that she had gotten a dog, Peter immediately pictured a noble German Shepherd. He decided to visit the same day to meet his daughter’s new dog. As Peter Ivanovich neared Tanya’s door, he heard high-pitched squeals that did not resemble any bark he knew.
When the door opened, a tiny creature no bigger than a kitten scampered out. “Well, you chose quite a dog. I hope you use different criteria when looking for a husband, or you might bring home another ‘protector,’” Peter Ivanovich remarked sarcastically, eyeing the Chihuahua puppy hopping around. Tanya, accustomed to her father’s bluntness, wasn’t offended and simply shrugged. She wanted a companion, not a guard dog. In her small apartment, there was just enough space for a little dog, and it wouldn’t cause much damage to her home decor. She named the puppy Cactus, feeling that his prickly personality matched the name.
Tanya didn’t walk Cactus often, so each outing was a celebration for him. At home, the puppy tried to contain his excitement, but outside, he reveled in his freedom, racing around with boundless energy. Peter Ivanovich openly ignored Cactus, but the dog, on the other hand, did everything to gain his attention. For nearly a year, Cactus endeavored to win over Peter, who stubbornly resisted.
The dynamic shifted when Tanya went on vacation. She asked her father to check on Cactus. “Please, take him for a walk a few times. You know how much he loves it,” Tanya requested before leaving. “I’m not going to walk him around people; they’ll laugh at us,” Peter grumbled.
During her vacation, Tanya periodically called to check on her father and Cactus. Peter assured her the dog was fine but didn’t elaborate. After a week, Peter called Tanya unexpectedly. “You’ll never believe it. I took Cactus for a walk, and he managed to scare off a dog twice his size. I turned away for a moment, and he broke free from the leash. The other dog was so frightened it ran off, dragging its owner, who could barely keep up. Our little guy isn’t timid at all.” Tanya could hear a sense of pride in her father’s voice, something she never expected from the reserved Peter Ivanovich.
When Tanya returned, she found that Cactus and her father had become best friends. Peter had taken on the role of mentor to the little dog, training him and asserting that courage and intelligence are not dependent on size.
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