Miniature Dachshunds and Gene Pools
Posted on June 27, 2007
Filed Under Personal, Worldview |
My daughter and son-in-law are on a mission trip to Northern Ireland. In their absence, we are caring for their dog: a Miniature Dachshund, or alonglittledoggie.
Since I normally run in the mornings, I decided that little Tashia would join me for my two-mile jaunts. The problem is that Tashia’s legs (I measured them) are 3 ½ inches in length. Well, actually, that wasn’t the real problem. The real problem was that the length of my legs and her legs were significantly different—by a factor of ten. So, to keep up with me, poor little Tashia’s legs were somewhere between a blur and a whirling dervish.
The first day I ended up carrying her home. The second day she didn’t want to go at all. I carried her out and she ran back. This morning she made the entire two miles and her tongue was no longer hanging out the side of her mouth.
Tashia is in shape.
In fact, as we turn on to the dirt road for the final quarter mile, she is now pulling on the rope like a sled dog. I can’t keep up with her. I’m being outrun by a low-slung canine with legs that are shorter than my thumb. As we sat on the porch this morning I felt she was urging me to go back out for another 20 miles. I think she was making fun of me. I told her that tomorrow we would play tennis instead.
I have begun to marvel at this little pooch. But more so at the wonder of what God has created. When He designed and developed dogs (as well as other animals) he crafted them with a set of building blocks that allow for selective breeding. Their gene pool is so diverse and yet so narrow that we can breed smaller and smaller and longer and longer dogs until we get Miniature Dachshunds. Or on the other end, we can get Saint Bernards, or Alaskan Huskies or Labrador Retrievers. But you can’t get a French Poodle Pig or a Golden Retriever Squirrel.
Just dogs: big dogs, little dogs, fast dogs, blood hounds and tiny short-legged dogs.
Isn’t God amazing?
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5 Responses to “Miniature Dachshunds and Gene Pools”
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Dr. Del Tackett is president of the Focus on the Family Institute and Senior Vice President to Focus on the Family. He is also the architect and chief spokesperson for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project--a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Amazing Indeed!
How is it that every single living creature can continually find a substance to not simply sustain life, but nourishment it even craves ingesting?
How much design had to go into that?
“PRAISE HIM”!!
God Bless,
Tom S
Aahh…what a neat story. The mysteries that unfold daily with a precious pet, big or small. They teach us to love and give unconditionally by wrapping themselves around our little fingers. Their gentle to rough prodding, depending on how stubborn we are, to walk and push forward even when we do not feel like we can go another mile, reminds me daily of our Father’s prodding to keep on going even when we are tired and weary. I just want to be wrapped around His heart the same way pets are wrapped around mine.
Isn’t it wonderful what we can learn from our little dogs!?? What a creative God we serve b/c he gave us dogs with different sizes, shapes and personalities. Thanks for sharing! Glad you are having another wonderful summer at FFI!
Dr. Tackett,
I, too, am dog-sitting; however, my son and daughter-in-law’s pet is a mere pup. Bear is adorable and sweet-natured, but in the day he’s been here he has nibbled loose several threads of an area rug, destroyed a tender first year clematis vine, and dug a hole in the yard. Don’t ask how all this has happened…I’ve not done much else but attend the pup!
Dr. Tackett,
I love this story!! I am the lucky owner of a beautiful retired racing greyhound–with a body shaped similar to little Tashia’s, but his legs are almost as long as mine and he can out run me in the blink of an eye. I also volunteer at the rescue kennel where I adopted my best four-legged friend. You wouldn’t think something as ordinary as working in a kennel would stir up worldview issues, but it’s amazing how may folks put stock in “animal communicators”. I would love to hear your views on our (human beings created in God’s image) relationship with the wonderfully complex animals with which we share this planet.
Tashia is adorable and I am sure she is enjoying her stay with you! Hope your daughter and son-in-law have a blessed trip to Ireland!