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When I brought Missy home, she had no trust. Three years old, shut down, fearful. The first thing she did when I got her out of the car was dive underneath it and flatten herself to the ground.

She had learned that the world was scary and people were unpredictable.

But underneath was a dog who wanted to trust.

I let her sit in a corner of the living room for the first few days and figure out her new world.

Three days later I let her off leash for the first time. Probably not the wisest thing for a scared dog but I lived on a large farm and the only place she really wanted to go when outdoors was back indoors.

So I took the leash off and a family member held her while I walked several yards away. I turned and called her. Five seconds later she was plastered to me feet with a tentative look on her face. I told her she was a very good girl and her face lit up.

It was the first glimpse of trust. It was powerful. Here was this creature taking a chance on a person she barely knew.

It set the stage for the rest of my time with her and the rest of my dog owning life. I want that trust from any dog I have. I want to develop it, nurture it and live up to it. Trust gives confidence. Not in the circumstances, but in the relationship. I’ve seen it manifest in different ways with my different dogs and, like every good thing in life, it always kind of amazes me and leaves me wanting more.