Everybody can win in this dog-cheat-dog world

At eight pounds, four ounces, Zoe was so small I was half afraid to hold her. So imagine how nervous we were when our family's newest addition met Jack, our 65-pound standard poodle, who'd never been around something so small and fragile.

Jack was hopping and jumping and running in circles.

"He's crazy," I warned her.

But he eventually calmed down enough so I could give him a closer look.

That's when she bit him on the nose.

Considering Zoe was an eight-week-old puppy, my wife and I took that as a good sign.

For his part, Jack couldn't have been happier. It didn't last. Within 24 hours she was hopping and jumping and running in circles and he'd been reduced to taking refuge on his favorite spot, the couch, which was just out of her reach.

"She's crazy," I warned him.

He didn't argue.

Six years later, not much has changed.

I throw the Frisbee, she beats him to it.

He wants a drink of water, she butts in front of him.

She even keeps him off the couch.

You're bigger than her!" I remember telling him the first time she claimed the grand prize.

This had no effect.

"It must be his haircut," I complained to my wife, who only rolled her eyes. "And then we had the poor boy neutered."

Beth turned the page on her chick magazine.

"This has got to be my fault," I said. "Is it because I work too much?"

"They're dogs," she said. "They'll work it out."

That's when Jack walked over, wagged his tail, and sat down in front of me. Noticing this, Zoe had no choice but to jump off the couch and plop down between us.

Jack didn't mind. In fact, he was soon snoring on the couch.

This wasn't a fluke.

He's barked out the front window at nothing at all, knowing full well she'll go into a snarling frenzy for at least a minute.

And the water dish? If there's a line, he'll sit in front of the back door. Once we open it, Zoe insists on being the first one out. Then he drinks at a nice, leisurely pace.

My wife calls this a win-win situation. I call it something we can all learn from. The key to winning at home is to not be hung up on losing.

But enough of that. For the past five minutes, Jack's been staring at the television, so I better put my hamburger down and go see what I'm missing.

Terry Shaw is the author of "The Way Life Should Be," a suspense novel set in Maine. The winner of Gather's First Chapters Contest, it was published in September by Touchstone/Simon & Schuster.

Read more winning articles at winspirations.gather.com.