Pure Joy Read Free Page B

him. The dog slept on our bed, and if I moved during the night, he emitted horrifying growls and bared his fangs at me. From a dog that weighed more than I did and was taller, these were not welcome signs of affection. I gave that dog a wide berth. And he once chased Victoria’s Chihuahua, whom I rescued in the nick of time. I was very sad to see themarriage end several years later, but utterly thrilled to see the ridgeback leave. He was one scary dog, although he adored his master. He convinced me I was not a “big dog” person.

    Samantha with Mia and Vanessa with Gidget, when both were puppies

Danielle Steel family photo
    But on the whole, our experiences with dogs have been wonderful. And Greta had turned me into a dog lover again. Her eventual successor, Gracie, also a miniature Brussels griff, is just as sweet. It’s a breed that suited me perfectly for a long time. They’re lovely, easygoing, and sleep a lot, which works for me, since they sleep while I work. For twenty years, I couldn’t see myself with any other breed. And although I thought my kids’ dogs were very cute and had nice personalities, I couldn’t imagine having a dachshund—they’re too mischievous and bark a lot (which would drive me crazy while I write). Yorkies just didn’t seem like “me” and were a little too cute. I couldn’t even begin to imagine myself with a dog as small as a Chihuahua. My son’s miniature Boston bull was way too active for me, since I write for eighteen and twenty hours at a time when I’m in the heat of a book or facing a tight deadline. My writing schedule can be very intense at times and requires concentration. So I was sure that Brussels griffs were the breed for me, until I moved back to Paris part-time, and commuted to California and New York every three or four weeks. And after seven years of commuting, I decided that I wanted a dog I could take with me, so I could have a dogin Paris too, and my Brussels griffs were too heavy for the weight limit to take in the cabin on the plane.
    Suddenly I found myself looking longingly for a smaller dog to travel with me. I was lonely in Paris without one. But I couldn’t figure out a breed I wanted that was small enough. It was like dating as I read dog books, cruised pet stores, and visited breeders, hoping to find a dog I’d fall in love with. The search was on.

Minnie as a tiny baby in the pet store the day I found her

Victoria Traina

TWO

Looking for True Love (Again)
    Once I decided I missed the warmth and companionship of a dog to take with me on my travels, and on the plane to Paris, I began a serious search. To me a dog provides someone to talk to, play with, take care of, and cuddle up with at night. Even if you have someone special in your life, a dog is a great companion. And watch out for men (or women) who don’t like dogs. If you do love animals, someone who can’t relate to yours may have an important piece missing that could matter to you. I’ve only had two men in my life who really disliked dogs, and I would have done better to avoid them both completely! I don’t know many men who love dogs as much as my husband John—and with the arrangement he made, where I got the back end and he got the front end, he had a pretty sweet deal. But John always had room in his heart for a lot of kids and dogs!
    I spent all my early years with pugs, and twenty adult years with Brussels griffs, and I just couldn’t imagine another breed that would suit me. But pugs weigh about twenty pounds, shed a lot, and can be smelly, and griffs are fourteen or fifteen pounds, and there is no negotiating with the international airlines about their twelve-pound limit for a dog in the cabin, so I had to find a smaller dog. But none of the tiny breeds appealed to me. I looked at miniature Pomeranians (ugh—yappy!!), Yorkies, some of whom are really cute and some not so cute. Miniature dachsies, too barky though very sweet. Maltese were too active. Chihuahuas didn’t