{"sf1_id":179822,"sf2_id":null,"title":"Ch 5: Coming Out On Top","author":"comidacomida","words":7596,"posted_at":"2010-09-20T21:49:00.000Z","tags":["Anal","Bull Terrier","Convention","Friendship","Gay Relationships","Human","M/M","burb dog","chow"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/179822-ch-5-coming-out-on-top","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/view/179822","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=179822\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"Coming Out On Top  \ncopyright 2010 comidacomida\n\nIt's not an easy task for a Burb Dog to find the right Leasher and it's even more  \ndifficult when they realize that they might not be the Burb Dog a specific Leasher's looking  \nfor. Any humans seeking to be a Leasher doesn't have it much easier. Different people seek  \ndifferent things out of a relationship, and that's universal. One of the key elements to  \nfinding a happy relationship lays in understand what you're seeking and helping to convey that  \nto your prospective partner. Likewise, being able to understand the needs and wants and  \ndesires of your significant other will help you make sure that the person you've found is the  \nright one for you. But I'm not a relationship councilor, so forgive me if I've wandered.\n\nA lot of people not in-the-know consider the Burb Dog movement to be a gathering of those who  \nhave a specific kink, but that's not what it is at all. Aside from the fact that not all Burb  \nDogs are interested in sex with humans, the different kinds of Burb Dogs approach relationships  \nin different ways. Yes, some may have elements of a sexual relationship, not all do. While I  \nadmit that JD and I have a very healthy relationship on many levels, including sexual, not all  \nBurb Dogs and Leashers measure their adoration with sex, nor their intimacy by trips to the  \nbedroom. In the end, relationships are best measured with contentment and I think a large part  \nof contentment is finding a partner that will help balance you... and, in this case, i'm  \ntalking about control.\n\nI know people will argue until the end of time that balancing control in a relationship is par  \nfor the course in any relationship, Burb Dog or otherwise and I agree. Understanding the flow  \nof control that you want out of a relationship can help establish an understanding with your  \nsignificant other. No one should 'settle' in a relationship. Knowing what you or your  \nprospective partner wants, needs, and desires out of a relationship is the key to finding  \nhappiness. It's all tall order, I know, especially for such a small sub culture like Burb Dogs  \nand Leashers, but it's a very important part to any relationship, Burb Dog or otherwise.\n\nWithout really understanding Burb Dogs it's hard to see how the control in a relationship  \nfluctuates. For the most part, these are very individualistic, but generalities can be made  \ndepending on the division of Burb Dog, but I'm not exactly into teaching sociology classes, so  \nI figure the best way to get the idea across is with some anecdotes. As I've always said, I  \nonly use names when given permission. For the sake of categorizing, I'll go through the list  \nin descending order of control the human in the relationship has: Puppy, Traditional Burb Dog, and Guard Dog. Bad Dogs are a classification of their own as well, but, because of the sensitive subject matter, I'll avoid them for now.\n\nThe subject of the Puppy Burb Dog is one that is often overlooked or skipped because of how foreign it is to most peoples' ideas of what a Burb Dog is. Out of all divisions of Burb Dogs, Puppies are the least likely to have a sexual relationship with their Leasher and the most likely of all Burb Dogs to seek out a Leahser or Leashers who is/are already established relationship. For the sake of discussion, I'll focus on Honey, the Puppy of a very dear friend, Dr. Fredrich Weidtman.\n\nHoney is one of the sweetest, most loving, pleasant Dogs I've ever met. She is always smiling and I don't think she knows how to NOT wag her tail. Now, despite what some might say about Puppies, Honey does NOT wear diapers, does not use a bottle, and does not speak in 'baby talk'; while some Puppies may also exhibit Infantism, the majority do not. Honey is a fully self-sufficient Dog and she has an incredibly keen mind. What identifies Honey as a Puppy is the fact that she is energetic, eager to please, and obsessed with being the object of affection for her chosen humans.\n\nHoney first met Dr Weidtman after an emergency surgery. Keep in mind that this was close to twenty years ago, so most of what everyone today takes for granted as common knowledge about the sub-culture was far from being in general circulation (the Internet really helped expand and identify Burb Dog society). Dr Weditman was not the managing physician, but he ended up encountering her on his rounds. They apparently hit it off right away and once Honey was well enough to be up and about Dr Weidtman spent any extra time he had walking her around the hospital grounds.\n\nAs it happened, the doctor who was acting caregiver to Honey had his workload increased, so it didn't take much for Dr Weidtman to step in and offer to take over. Honey was in the hospital for two weeks before being discharged, and by that time, the Doctor-Patient relationship had turned into a Leasher-Puppy one. Dr Weidtman gave orders and nothing pleased Honey more than following them. Once Honey was discharged, the two agreed to meet at a restaurant so Honey could be introduced to Dr Weidtman's wife, Courtney. Although it's not unfair to think that problems could have arisen, they actually didn't; Courtney has always been just as much of a Leasher as her husband, and she was overjoyed at the prospect of meeting a new Dog.\n\nDr Weidtman, as anybody who's in-the-know is aware, is a tall, thin, professional man whose stoic appearance is exactly what you'd expect of a long-time doctor. He doesn't often smile and usually speaks in an even, official tone with a faint German accent. Most people, however, do not know his wife, who is, in many ways his opposite. Courtney Weidtman is a beautifully plump, shorter lady who works as a first grade teacher. She is always smiling and has one of the most expressive voices I've ever heard; and she's a great singer. She's from Connecticut, thus she does not share her husband's accent-- though she's very good at mimicking it when she's playfully poking fun at him.\n\nTogether, the couple took another two weeks to get to know Honey. Before her surgery, Honey had been going to art school but, because of her inability to take classes during the recovery time, the conditions of her student loans caused them to come due. Since she was unable to continue her schooling if she wanted to cover rent, Honey was forced to make a choice. While her first plan was to give up her classes, Mrs Weidtman had no intention of hearing it; Honey ended up moving in with the Weidtmans so she could continue going to college.\n\nThe Weidtmans had a spare room they had rented out before, to another Dog, I understand. He was, in fact, the one responsible for helping them realize that they were Leashers. While I don't know the specifics of the relationship, it had apparently come to its conclusion some time before they met Honey and he'd gone on his way. Honey accepted the room and continued going to school, graduated, and earned her degree. The arrangement worked so well, however, that she ended up staying, and the three have lived together ever since.\n\nThe Weidtmans have three kids. all of whom have grown up with Honey being a member of the household. Their oldest is a few years younger than me, and he just recently started seeing a foreign exchange student from Egypt, a Saluki, or so I'm told. From what I've heard, she sounds like a good match for him, but considering Egypt's strict code of conduct regarding humans and Dogs interacting, I can only hope she qualifies to have her VISA extended.\n\nHoney still acts as the Weidtmans' live-in help. She keeps the house straightened up and sees to meal preparation. Although it's not required of her, she says it helps her feel like she's not being a drain on her Leashers. She's helped them redesign the layout of their house, helped them pick furniture and painted every single room they have... some more than once. On a few occasions she's even acted as an interior decorator for some of the Weidtmans' friends, and has something of a name for herself on that level.\n\nSo now, about two decades later, all three are still happy. It's unusual in most cases for a Puppy relationship to last so long; usually the Dog starts feeling neglected as the human slowly loses interest, or the Human tires of always having to look out for, care for, and decide for their Puppy. In the case of the Weidtmans and Honey, however, they seem to be able to make it work. Honey contributes in tangible ways around the house, and also in the emotional ways that most Puppy-Preferring Leashers look for: her tail still wags just as fast, she's still there at the door to greet them every day with wide-eyed adoration, and she still listens to their every word and complies with each and every request.\n\nThe Weidtmans have Honey's best interests in mind at all times. Every request they make of her and every decision they make on her behalf puts her needs at the forefront. It's easy for some Leashers to go overboard with a Puppy, who some categorize as a willing slave. The longest, most successful relationships however are when Leashers give over a large portion of their lives to their Puppy because they know that their Puppy is going to do everything to make them happy. In return, that Puppy needs someone with the foresight and strength of character to return the favor. Regardless of the fact that the Leasher is the one in charge, they are just as much beholden to their Puppy, because no relationship is a one-way street. As far as reciprocation-without-going-overboard, however, I think traditional Burb Dogs are one of the best examples.\n\nThe most successful traditional Burb Dog relationship I can think of involves a wonderful  \ncouple by the name of Jean and Lion-of-Kingstown (Leon, for short). I met them, believe it or  \nnot, at the first furry/fur-free convention I ever went to. This was about a month after I  \nwent to my first Burb-Dog/Leasher convention... yea... it was quite the summer schedule for my  \nshow. Apparently the organizers of the Burb-Dog/Leasher convention I went to in St Louis had  \npassed my name along to the organizers of Con-Fur-Mation, a convention for Furries and  \nFur-Frees held yearly in Las Vegas. Needless to say, when the invite came the company  \nscheduled the flight for JD and myself without batting an eye; the ratings for the earlier  \nconvention segment were some of the best I'd had.\n\nAfter attending my very first convention ever, I had an idea what to expect out of  \nCon-Fur-Mation, but I once again was proven wrong. While I considered the St Louis convention  \nto be big, it paled in comparison to the gathering in Las Vegas. It's unfair to compare the  \ntwo conventions, I suppose, since they're each vastly different in subject matter and  \ninteraction. There are some similarities, like comparing a comic book convention to a  \nroleplaying convention-- I won't go into details, but hopefully it illustrates my point. In  \nthe end, however, I'd say that having the St Louis B.D.A.L. (Burb Dog And Leasher) Convention  \nunder my belt made understanding and integrating into Con-Fur-Mation that much easier.\n\nI spent almost the entire first day there interviewing the organizers and getting to know the  \nschedule. As for the first night, I finally had a chance to mingle with the crowd. With what  \nlimited information I had on the topic (despite attempting to do as much research as possible  \nbeforehand), I'd come to expect almost every Furry was a human, but I discovered otherwise.  \nAmong my top favorites (I apologize if I embarrass anybody), a white German Shepard who colored  \nhis fur to look like a fox, a Lhasa Apso cut and colored to look like a koala, a St Bernard  \nwith clips on her ears and dyed fur who went as a black bear, and, of course, Leon.\n\nJD and I had just dismissed the rest of the crew for the night and we were settling down at a  \ntable in the restaurant portion of the hotel that the convention had 'taken over' for the  \nweekend. When I say 'taken over', I do mean figuratively, but the management was welcoming  \nenough that the Furries and Fur-less went well outside the designated area with their blessing.  \nI was pleased to see that it didn't cause much of a disruption, though on more than one  \noccasion a passer-by paused to look at JD to figure out if he was really a Dog or if it was  \nTHAT good of a costume.\n\n\"The next time someone stops and gawks I swear I'm gonna throw somethin' at em.\" he promised.  \nThankfully, that didn't come to pass. The very next individual to come by was a gigantic Chow  \nwith the most peculiar style of grooming. Picture if you will a seven foot tall golden-furred  \nDog who looks, on all accounts, like a lion. I don't mean a passing resemblance, I mean having  \nalmost all the fur on his body cut short except for a huge, flowing, brownish-gold mane. I say  \n'almost' because, at the end of his whip-like tail there remained a large tuft of fur, just  \nlike on a lion. He was, I also noticed, a lion with a collar.\n\nThe Dog's 'mane' traveled beneath his collar down to the middle of his chest and almost  \ndisappeared into the smooth shaven portion, but a very faint line of it continued downward to  \ndisappear into the elastic band of his shorts. It was as if he wore his vest open in order to  \nshow it off. At the time I wondered if he did that on purpose just to make people wonder just  \nhow far it went-- if it was the case, it sure worked, \"Wow...\" I remember saying. The single  \nword comment didn't sit well with JD, obviously.\n\n\"Feh...\" my Guard Dog commented dryly, \"I could shave my fur and go as a baby rat, but I'd  \nstill be a Dog.\"\n\nI smiled at the comment, and focused back on JD; he wasn't the jealous type because, and I'm  \ngoing to quote him here, \"You're not going anywhere else because you know you'll never find  \nanything better than what you get at home.\" Aside from the crassness of that pearl of wisdom,  \nhe did have a point; my Guard Dog is the only one I need. I was content to continue our quiet  \nevening together, but the Chow had a different plan.\n\n\"ey mon... disea buai be Jason Cambell fron'se sho, 'Dog Eat Dog', ain'cha mon?\" it took a  \nmoment for me to realize that he was talking to JD and myself, pretty much at the same time...  \nand he had a Jamaican accent. I'd never heard a real Jamacian accent before that.\n\n\"Yea... he is. And he's off work.\" JD answered with all the courtesy of a charging bull  \nelephant.\n\n\"We ju a do, mon? ... just comin' ta be sayin' ''ey'... no reason ta be gittin all papisuo.\"  \nthe Chow responded. I consider myself pretty worldly, but I didn't really understand a lot of  \nwhat he said at that point.\n\nDespite the less than welcoming introduction from my Guard Dog, the Chow invited himself to our  \ntable, much to JD's chagrin. He introduced himself as 'di Leon a Kingston', or 'Leon' for  \nshort. Leon, to this day, remains one of the most outgoing and open Burb Dogs I ever had the  \npleasure of meeting. Not only that, but his attitude is infectious. In the first ten minutes  \nhe spent with us he actually managed to get JD to smile. It wasn't a tail wag by any means,  \nbut he got further with the terrier than most in so short a time.\n\nLeon attended every convention that he could, which meant that he averaged three of them a  \nyear. He was also, apparently, a fan of my show, and told me several times. He explained that  \nhe attributed the majority of the success in his relationship to people like me who were  \nwilling to live out in the open and pave the way for the rest of the community. Those are my  \nwords paraphrasing, mostly Leon had some colorful words for uptight conservatives. I don't  \nstill don't know what 'bomba claat' means, but I'm sure it can't be good.\n\nRight as Leon was ordering another set of drinks for the three of us I heard something I hadn't  \nexpected to hear in Las Vegas: a woman speaking in a downtown New York accent, \"Leon! Where  \nthe hell've you been? It's almost midnight!\" It wasn't one of the harsh street-level, nasal  \naccents, but, after having lived there for a few years myself, it was still unmistakably New  \nYork.\n\n\"'ey buais, disa fain uman be mi speshal gial.\" Leon motioned to the speaker as she  \napproached. If you've spent enough time in New York you'd understand what I meant when I say  \nthat she had a 'casual city girl' look to her. And, if you've ever seen Sex in the City (or  \nspent any amount of time in Downtown New York) you'll know what I mean when I say that it's  \nobvious that she had some money to her. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking  \nabout, let's just say that I think her hat probably cost more than my entire suit. Despite the  \nobvious elitist clothing, she was a gorgeous black woman with fine features and flawless, ebony  \nskin; if I were straight, I might even have been interested (I've told her so several times  \nsince).\n\nShe joined us at the table exactly as Leon did, but she did it with a certain grace that didn't  \nmake it seem like she was imposing. Jean, as Leon introduced her, took a seat next to him and  \nran her hand through his mane and he closed his eyes, leaning closer to her touch; his tags  \njingled at the motion. I'd already figured out the connection that point, but my wonderful  \nGuard Dog finally put two and two together, \"You're a Burb Dog.\" he blurted. Everyone at the  \ntable laughed at his expense and, thankfully, he did too.\n\nWe were up until 3 am talking amongst ourselves. The more time Leon spent talking and the more  \nused to his accent I became the more I appreciated having met him. While I had assumed that  \nthe world of Burb Dogs and Furries might intersect, I had the chance to meet one personally  \nalong with his wonderful Leasher who not only humored his enjoyment of presenting himself as a  \nlion, she also encouraged him. I don't often have chances to have such intimate, relaxed  \nmeetings with fans of my shows, and getting a chance to hear about them and from them is  \nsomething I've come to really enjoy.\n\nBut, more than anything, that single meeting created a relationship that has lasted for quite a  \nfew years; I suppose it helps that they live about three or four hours away, but, like I said  \nbefore they're both really good people. It's strange to think that they ended up meeting  \nbecause of a live presentation I gave in New York, but I've heard of stranger ways to meet. In  \nthe end though, I'm glad that they met, and I'm even happier that they met me.\n\nJean has been a guest on my show a few times and never ceases to amaze me about how much she  \nunderstands Dogs. Despite the fact that she works in corporate accounting her ability to  \nrelate to people astounds me. She's been a Leasher for almost ten years and Leon is her second  \nBurb Dog; the first relationship ended amicably, if I recall. What really gets me about the  \nrelationship she shares with Leon is how incredibly different they are, and yet how well they  \nget along together.\n\nLeon is one of the most perfect examples of the intrinsic Burb Dog. He stays busy during the  \nday working at a distribution center for a major retail chain. He leaves after Jean and gets  \nhome before her and waits patiently. They usually go for walks in the late afternoon and spend  \ntheir extra spare time at home together. Leon wears his collar everywhere and sometimes at  \nhome he'll wear a leash just for Jean. There's a lot more detail I could go into, but in  \nrespect for their private life, I'll get to the point.\n\nAs a couple, Jean and Leon share a lot of the responsibilities for managing the household but,  \nwhen it comes down to it, Jean is in charge. She often requests (and receives) input from Leon  \nand he listens and obeys obediently-- he IS a Burb Dog, after all. Leon is laid back and  \nrelaxed and is content to have someone help direct him in his spare time; he doesn't mind being  \ntold what to do. Jean is all business in her professional life, and that tends to bleed over  \ninto her personal life too, which means finding someone who isn't intimidated by a strong  \nwilled woman is the best thing she could have done-- she found that in Leon.\n\nDon't get me wrong; Jean isn't an uptight control freak anymore than Leon is a listless  \ndo-nothing... they just 'fit' together. The reason they work so well as Burb Dog and Leasher  \nis that they each fill the mold of what the other is looking for and that they share a deep,  \nloving bond for one another. Jean has had a few romantic relationships during the time that  \nshe's been Leon's Leasher; they've come and gone, but Leon has remained a constant as roommate,  \nBurb Dog, and, most recently, a lover. I know I've said many times that not all Burb Dogs and  \nLeasher are sexually intimate, I also can't deny that spending that much time with such a  \nstrong emotional bond can sometimes cause things to go 'to the next level'.\n\nThe focus of control in a traditional Burb Dog/Leasher relationship flows smoothly between the  \ntwo parties. While a Leasher is considered to be the 'dominant' person in the relationship  \nthere is a certain amount of give that each party accepts. Leon has a thing for recreational  \nuse of 'ganja' and Jean understands that. While she won't try to change that about him, she  \nrefuses to let him bring any of it into their home and makes certain that she knows where he is  \nwhen he is using it; Leon complies with her request, making the understanding complete for both  \nof them.\n\nJean controls the finances in the household and Leon is more than happy enough to hand his  \npaycheck over to her. In return, she makes sure that he never goes without, and often buys him  \nspecial little treats, which he can appreciate all the more. There are a lot of little things  \nthey do for none another as Burb Dog and Leasher that never cease to amaze and astound me. The  \nconnection that they have is a lot more subtle, I think, than what, say, JD and I have. That's  \nnot to say I'd trade my Guard Dog in for a Burb Dog-- far from it.\n\nUnlike Burb Dogs, Guard Dogs tend to be a lot more direct with control. In any Guard Dog  \nrelationship it is readily obvious that any prospective human has to know that they won't get  \ntheir way often. While I won't reveal my own personal secrets, I know I've discussed plenty of  \nthem in the past. What it really comes down to is understanding your Dog and making sure that  \nhe or she understands you. Being able to find a compromise without forcing your Guard Dog to  \nsacrifice their feeling of control and self-direction is key. The Guard Dog I have the most  \nexperience with, of course, is my own Guard Dog: Jack-Daniels.\n\nJD is one of those Dogs that desperately needs direction, but hates feeling like he's following  \norders. I think he's become a lot better about accepting advice than he was, say, five or six  \nyears ago, but he still likes to do things his own way and still rebels whenever he's told that  \nsomething has to be 'just so'. Like most Guard Dogs he wants to feel that I need him and that  \nhe gets to influence his human's life for the better. As a target of his affection, I can  \ntruthfully say that both of those above desires are reciprocated; I freely admit that life  \nwouldn't be the same without my wonderful Guard Dog and he has helped me go directions in life  \nthat would have been all but impossible without him.\n\nVery little is subtle about JD, and, as his human, the opposite tends to be true of me. Just  \nlike with Jean and Leon, our relationship is based on being the other side of the coin for one  \nanother. When JD wants control he is direct and takes it; I'm perfectly happy to let him run  \nwith it in general, but I still have to be able to reel him in now and again; he doesn't always  \nlike it but we both understand that it's necessary a times. The key to handling a Guard Dog in  \nan instance like that is to give them a way that they can voluntarily 'lend' you the  \ndecision-making power. Believe me-- it really helps.\n\nWhile I could list any number of whens and whys, I think one of the most poignant illustrations  \nof what I mean is something a lot more visceral. Again, I'll point out that Burb Dog  \nrelationships are not always about sex, but in making my point on control I can't think of any  \nbetter example than when a Dog Guard is at his (or her) most primal. I've always felt that  \nit's important to be the kind of partner you would like to have, and that means taking your  \nother half into consideration. I've had bad days, and I know that JD has had plenty too--  \nbeing able to see this and understand it is one of the key elements to a happy relationship  \n(whether in or out of bed).\n\nMy Guard Dog is the kind of Dog who puts everything he has into everything he does; he  \napproaches life with gusto especially when it involves me. JD will often ignore his own needs  \nand wants to see to me first. He is considerate and loving (even if he makes a show of the  \nopposite) and he truly, truly cares. At risk to my own personal wellbeing in the event that he  \never heard that this got out: he is a big softie when it comes to his favorite human. It's one  \nof those many things I love about him, so I hope he doesn't mind me saying that TOO much.\n\nThe reason that I'm saying all this (aside from the fact that I like to celebrate my wonderful  \nBull Terrier every chance I get) is that JD's tunnel-vision regarding me can cause me distress  \nat times because I don't want him sacrificing himself for me-- I want us both to prosper  \ntogether, not at his expense. It's hard to have a healthy, meaningful relationship when one  \nparty is burning the candle at both ends; it's up to the human to help regulate that and help  \nthe Guard Dog by being good at balancing needs and wants.\n\nAnyone who has ever had a Guard Dog knows that no about of objection will get a Guard Dog to  \nbehave any differently, so sometimes it is a matter of knowing how to reach them and get them  \nto understand your concerns without making them back down or surrender. JD has told me point  \nblack that I am a conniving, tricky, sneaky little furless monkey, and that he likes that about  \nme. He also said I have a really nice ass, but I don't think that's pertinent for this  \ndiscussion. In the case of having a Burb Dog, knowing the best ways to get past naturally  \nstrong will is imperative for the health of the relationship.\n\nEven though JD has a job with 'Dog-Eat-Dog' it doesn't mean that we're together twenty four  \nhours a day, seven days a week. In fact, we might not catch more than a glimpse of one another  \nduring the day. If there's a special project going and they need an extra set of paws, JD is  \noften one of their first picks, so we might even end up at different locations on some days. I  \nadmit that I'm too busy to take lunch breaks on occasion and that always gets on JD's nerves.  \nWhat it comes down to is that sometimes I have good days and sometimes I have bad days;  \nsometimes JD has good days and sometimes he has bad days; we don't always have the same kind of  \ndays at the same time.\n\nI knew something wasn't right one day when we drove back to the apartment in silence. JD is  \nnot naturally a quiet Dog and whenever he has nothing to say there's almost always a figurative  \nthunder cloud hanging over his head; that day was no exception. I knew better than to  \ninterrupt the silence; JD never passed up the opportunity to talk when he was ready.  \nThroughout the car ride home he held his tongue.\n\nEven once we got back to the apartment and the elevator doors had shut, he said nothing. I  \nslipped my hand into his paw and he gave it a light squeeze, his personal signal that he  \nappreciated my presence. We walked down the hallway in silence and I unlocked the door. He  \nwent in first, and I followed. JD finally started talking once the time the door to the  \napartment closed.\n\n\"One of the jackasses in Post was talking about you again today.\" he started. JD had a  \ntendency to refer to people as jackasses; by his count a good 3/4th of the production staff  \nwere jackasses, which didn't do much to narrow down the list of who he might have been  \nreferring to.\n\n\"About me? With my Guard Dog around?\" I asked him, moving to take a seat on the couch, \"It  \ncouldn't have been bad if they saw you there-- everyone knows better than to do something like  \nthat.\" I offered him an encouraging smile, but it was obvious that he wasn't in the mood to be  \ncheered up.\n\n\"I was outside in the hall... stupid bastard doesn't even bother talking quietly... he just  \ngoes off on how much of an insufferable prick you've become.\" JD huffed, moving to take a seat  \nnext to me on the sofa, teeth slightly visible beneath his half-snarl.\n\nThe comment made me pause, \"Insufferable Prick?\" If people have a complaint about me I've  \nalways hoped that they'd tell me so I could have a chance to address it. I tend to take  \ncritique seriously and do what I can to better the situation. Despite how I looked at the  \nsituation at that point, however, I had trouble seeing that description fit me. I remember  \nwondering if it might have been a true statement; weren't 'insufferable pricks' so bad that  \nthey didn't even realize they were so horrible?\n\n\"You aren't.\" JD spoke up quickly; he's always known me well enough to recognize the signs  \nwhenever I'm analyzing myself.\n\n\"And you told him so, I bet.\" I commented, knowing fully-well that whatever happened wouldn't  \nhave involved a polite conversation.\n\n\"Hell yes... in stereo.\" JD held up both paws as fists.\n\n\"Oh JD...\" I sighed, understanding more about why his day might have gone poorly.\n\nJD's ears turned reddish as he glanced down and away from me, \"Turns out he was talking about  \nJason Myles Davis, the morning news anchor.\"\n\nEverything began to make just a little more sense at that point, and, despite the fact that I  \nwanted to laugh at the sheer insanity of the situation, I couldn't help but feel bad about it.\n\n\"Thank you.\" is all I said, resting a hand on his paw.\n\nJD looked up, cocking his head to the side, \"For making an ass out of myself?\"\n\n\"No...\" I said with a smile, glancing sidelong at him, \"For standing up for me.\"\n\nMy Guard Dog chuckled at that, letting me lace my fingers through his, \"Standing up for the  \nnews anchor, anyway... and that guy IS a royal prick.\"\n\n\"What do you expect from a guy whose parents named him after a jazz musician?\" I countered, my  \nsmile growing larger as his did. I grinned like a mad man when he looked at me cocking his  \nhead further-- I love it when he does that.\n\n\"There's a musician named Jason Davis?\" he asked.\n\n\"No,\" I laughed, \"Myles Davis. I think that's why he uses his full name on the air.\"\n\n\"Wow... that does make more sense now.\" JD said with a contemplative nod.\n\n\"That isn't all that's bothering you though, is it?\" I asked. When you've spent enough time  \nwith anyone, Dog or otherwise you get to know their body language, and JD's was saying volumes  \nabout his day; a misunderstanding like that was bad, but not bad enough to warrant his mood.\n\n\"I don't want to talk about it.\" he said with finality. I know when to leave something well  \nenough alone, and if JD isn't going to open up to me about something then I know that he still  \nneeds time to sort through it himself.\n\nI nodded and released his paw, patting the back of it with my hand, \"Alright.\" I acknowledged  \nand stood up, \"I'm going to change, and then look into getting something together for dinner.\n\n\"Just order Chinese.\" JD suggested, \"You don't need to cook tonight.\"\n\n\"I was thinking about making meatloaf.\" I explained. I'm not sure what it is about meatloaf  \nthat drives my Guard Dog crazy, but he can never get enough of it. His ears went up  \nimmediately, and his tail gave a double-thwap against the sofa but, to my surprise, it paused  \nand returned to its prior position. The next words out of his muzzle were a bigger surprise.\n\n\"Nah... that's alright... we can save it for another night.\" I'm not usually prone to  \noverreacting, but that got me worried.\n\n\"JD...\" I said, leaning against the wall next to the hallway, \"is everything alright?\"\n\nMy Dog let out a deep breath before speaking, \"I got a call from Matty today.\"\n\n\"Matty?\" I asked. It wasn't that I didn't know the name, I knew who Matty was-- one of the  \nDogs that JD used to hang out with in high school. He hadn't heard from any of the old gang  \nsince he stood up for me so it seemed almost inconceivable that he'd get a call from one of  \nthem, \"How'd he find you? Why would he call?\"\n\nJD shrugged and answered simply, \"He called to let me know that Jumper died yesterday.\"\n\nEverything started to make more sense immediately: Jumper was another one of the group that  \nhe'd hung out with in high school, \"Wow.\" it wasn't as eloquent as I'd normally expect from  \nmyself, but I was still surprised by that point, \"I'm sorry to hear that.\"\n\nJD stood, shrugging again, \"I'm not... he was a jackass.\"\n\n\"Are you alright?\" I asked.\n\n\"Yea.\" he answered, walking past me down the hall. Needless to say, I followed him. JD  \nmutedly took off his shirt and tossed it onto the floor. He laid down on the bed, on his  \nstomach, arms curled up beneath a pillow and rested his chin atop it. Quietly, I took a seat  \nbeside him and rested a hand on his back. I didn't say anything; it wasn't my place to.\n\n\"Matty got out of 'the life' around the time you and me finished college.\" JD explained, \"We've  \nbeen in touch on and off since then.\"\n\n\"Good.\" I remember feeling a lot of mixed emotions about that admission. JD and I weren't ones  \nto keep secrets from each other, and I figured that his old high school buddies would have come  \nup in conversation if he was in contact with one of them, yet they never did. On the other  \nhand, I realized that we also didn't make it a point to keep tabs on one another, so it wasn't  \nsomething worth overreacting about.\n\n\"Matty ended up getting dragged out of the life by this girl... Sunny. He's working for her  \ndad's construction company now... good money... seems happy.\" JD continued.\n\n\"That's great, JD... I'm glad he finally found something worthwhile.\" I patted his back  \nlightly, and he sighed.\n\n\"It's funny how people change sometimes, isn't it?\" he asked. JD is NOT the kind of dog that  \nwaxes philosophic on a general basis, so the question caught me off guard.\n\n\"Hmm?\" I inquired.\n\n\"There's just three of us left...\" JD explained, rolling over so he could look up at me, \"Matty  \nand me and Clod.\"\n\n\"Clod? He's the Mastiff, right?\"\n\nJD nodded, \"Yea he's in prison for the third time... paralyzed from the waist down.\"\n\n\"Really?\" I didn't have to pretend to be surprised, \"How?\"\n\n\"How is he in prison, or how did he get paralyzed?\" JD asked. I recognized it as him being his  \nusual belligerent self... even in his mood he wasn't willing to let me get any easy information  \nout of him.\n\n\"Both.\" I answered with mock frustration; his tail stirred slightly, almost tempted to wag.\n\n\"He got involved in a crowed that was even worse than what he'd been in before... did some  \nthings he shouldn't have... then got shot after trying the police-suicide thing.\" it all came  \nout of JD as if by rote, casually, and in a simple, straight-forward tone.\n\n\"That's horrible.\" I acknowledged, resting my hand on his sternum.\n\n\"Thing is...\" my Dog let out a deep breath, \"That could have been me.\"\n\n\"No... that couldn't have been you.\" I countered.\n\n\"It could have if you wouldn't have come along.\" he contested, reaching up to cover my hand  \nwith one of his massive paws.\n\n\"JD... who you were and who you are now are two completely different dogs.\n\n\"I know,\" he acknowledged, \"it just reminds me of... of... everything.\"\n\n\"Being reminded of where you came from isn't a bad thing... just so long as you remember that  \nyou aren't there anymore.\" I offered.\n\n\"Sometimes I just get worried that I'm going to do something stupid that'll cost me more than I  \ncan pay.\" he offered, looking up at me, \"I mean... not in dollars... I mean figurative-stuff.\"\n\nThe comment made me smile, \"You won't, JD... I believe in you. You're a good dog.\" I  \nexplained, leaning over him to touch my nose to his.\n\n\"Even when I want to be bad.\" his tail began to pick up speed, and I realized that whatever  \nI'd done for JD had worked; that was the furry bundle of hedonism I knew and loved. JD's paws  \nfound their way to my shirt, pulling it up and over my head even as I worked to unbutton it.  \nHe pulled it free and threw it to the floor to join his.\n\n\"You're not avoiding the issue, are you?\" I challenged, taking hold of his paws before he could  \nget them to the zipper of my jeans.\n\n\"Quiet, human, or I'll nip you.\" he countered; we both knew that I wasn't about to call his  \nbluff.\n\nJD hadn't worked through what was bothering him, but he was content to distract himself and how  \ncould I argue with his choice of distraction? My Guard Dog helped me out of my jeans and I  \nslid down to the mattress between his legs with my chest laying across the shorts covering his  \ngroin; I could already feel his firming sheath beneath the fabric. As usual, JD admired my  \nfurless body complete with underwear as I worked his zipper down. If you've never undressed a  \ndog before let me tell you now: Dogs that wear zippers either have a lot of faith in their  \nlover or they're a masochist. Fur and zippers do NOT go well together. Thankfully I'm good  \nwith my hands, or so JD tells me.\n\nI about-faced to work his shorts down off his legs. With just enough time to throw the  \nclothing into the growing pile in the corner, my legs were hoisted up into the air by JD as he  \nhefted them up with one paw, second grabbing the elastic of my underwear before pulling them  \nstraight off me with only pause enough to adjust his grip on my ankles. After tossing them in  \nthe same direction as the rest of the discarded clothing he dropped me right back down to the  \nmattress before pulling me close to him in a powerful hug against his abdomen.\n\n\"Thank you for being my human.\" he spoke, voice crackling faintly, almost unnoticeable... but  \nstill noticeable to me. I realized at that point that he wasn't seeking a distraction from his  \nemotions... he was looking for reaffirmation, but he just didn't know how to ask.\n\n\"Thank you for being my Guard Dog.\" I answered back, crawling up through his hug so I could kiss  \nhim on the muzzle. I could feel a wave of strain and stress leave his muscles, and my  \nwonderful Dog began to relax the moment my lips touched his, and his tail started to softly  \nbeat against the mattress. I reached up beneath the pillow and pulled out a tube of lubricant;  \nJD's tail picked up the tempo. \"I love you.\" I told him.\n\n\"I love you too.\" he responded, and leaned forward to lick my neck. I don't know what it is  \nabout JD, or maybe it's just me, but he always seems to know the right action for the right  \nmoment, and that was no exception. He leaned further forward, teeth brushing my throat and I  \ngasped at the feeling; I wasn't afraid-- JD wasn't going to hurt me. I drew away from his  \nmuzzle with great reluctance, but I was ready, and I knew that if I waited too long he'd be  \nmore than ready.\n\nI drew my body down his, kissing his chest and sternum as my lube-slickened hand slowly eased  \nhis sheath down, palm and fingers caressing the quickly-hardening flesh, slathering the lubricant on as they went. JD growled in a way only I knew he could, hips rising up to meet my fingers, but I  \nquickly adjusted my grip, lowering myself down into his thrust. Spreading my legs on either  \nside of his waist, I sat back, pulling up against the back of his still mostly-soft knot until  \nmy hips touched his; I've always found the knot easier to deal with if I can accommodate it  \nbefore he gets too excited.\n\nI closed my eyes, reveling in the feel of our bodies combined. JD let out a deep breath, and I  \nfelt more of his stress evaporate. My Dog was always so careful with me as we coupled; he  \nwould find his release, but never by hurting me... he'd never give in to wild abandon because  \nhe had no intention of losing control. I realized very quickly as his teeth started grinding  \namidst my small movements and positioning that he wouldn't find the kind of relaxation he  \nneeded if he had to work within those guidelines; I was more than happy enough to do that for  \nhim.\n\nJD slid his paws around my waist and he gripped me tightly, pulling me down against his body, but I braced my knees against the mattress. I watched his pupils dilate when he saw the evil  \ngrin on my face. I shook my head, and that was all the direction he needed; it was my turn to  \nlead, and I wasn't about to let him dictate the pace. He slowly, obediently laid his head back  \nagainst the pillow, and gave me complete control, his paws gripping my hips, but doing nothing  \nmore.\n\nI slid my hands through the fur on his stomach, rolling up to his chest, then back down as I  \nbegan to rock my hips against his. JD doesn't give up control easily, but sometimes, when the  \nsituation is 'just right', he is usually glad that he does. From the expression on his muzzle,  \nI had a feeling that he was pleased with his decision; I know I was.\n\nIn the short time it took JD's knot to harden it was apparent that he had wholly given himself  \nover to me. I can tell you with certainty there is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that  \nyou get an opportunity to do something wonderful for your Dog. It's an amazing feeling to know that your dog loves you you and trusts you and believes in you so much that, even though he would never normally give in, he surrenders himself so completely that he barely manages to squirm as he moans out his release. That feeling is so all-encompassing... so actualizing... so reaffirming that I don't feel embarrassed in the least by saying that I didn't even have to touch myself to join him in bliss.\n\n  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1642551-the-cohen-icosahedron-ch-4.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/228443-ch-6-shattered.json"}