My friend told me about her two dogs. One is a Golden Retriever, and the other is a Border Collie. Their personalities are vastly different—one is extremely secure, while the other is often overly reactive.
The little Golden Retriever was raised by my friend's sister, growing up in an environment filled with love. It was never scolded or hit, often taken out to play, and had its own friends. Its personality is excellent, the most notable trait being its unshakeable sleep; nothing can disturb it, no matter what you do nearby.
The Border Collie was raised by my friend's parents. Naturally mischievous and playful, my friend's parents wanted it to be obedient and well-behaved. So, at a very young age, they sent it to a pet training school. It stayed there on and off for over a year. By the time it came back, it had become much more obedient but had one significant trait—extreme insecurity.
My friend said that the Border Collie almost never fully closes its eyes when it sleeps, always in a state of semi-sleep, waking up immediately at the slightest noise. It is very afraid of making mistakes. For example, if it vomits, it will be terrified of dirtying the floor and might even eat it back up. It also leaks urine when excited and used to guard its food—all signs of severe stress.
This issue eventually improved after my friend moved back home and became the primary caregiver for the Border Collie. Her care was meticulous and accommodating—no scolding, always praising, often taking it out to play. Even if a new toy was destroyed within a day, it didn’t matter as long as the dog was happy.
This state continued for about two years. One day, my friend happily told me, "I recently noticed that it can now sleep with its eyes fully closed." Hearing this news, I felt genuinely happy for the little dog.
My friend told me about this last year. I suddenly remembered it today because I noticed my cat napping on the windowsill, undisturbed by anything. My cat has also grown up with unconditional love, so its emotional state is extremely stable and secure.
Sometimes, I think about how dogs, which are inherently secure animals, can have such different psychological states in different growth environments. It's even more pronounced in humans, who are more sensitive and emotional. The Golden Retriever raised in love symbolizes a relaxed and cheerful life. In contrast, the Border Collie, raised under pressure, is smart and well-behaved but far less at ease than the Golden Retriever.
I often think about what my friend said: "Even now, the Border Collie has not formed a deep, soulful bond with humans like the Golden Retriever has." Its behaviors often show loneliness and distrust, issues that can only be slowly alleviated but never completely changed.
Nevertheless, the Border Collie is still fortunate. It eventually met my friend, who takes care of it with great attention, allowing it to sleep peacefully and run joyfully. But it is one of the rare lucky ones. How many timid and fearful dogs in this world can be loved unconditionally?
