My theory is that dogs come to embody the love of the family they live with. I sound pretentious saying that dogs are love, but that’s not exactly what I mean. They reflect their family’s love in the sense that their personality is shaped by how they are treated: how much they’re neglected, whether they’re agile or sluggish, if the family is strict with them or gets bored with them. Most people want to make sure that their “love” stays safe.
The love that our dog embodies has taken on the funniest little shape, and right now is taking a nice nap.
-Shigesato Itoi, “Today’s Darling”
犬って、いっしょに暮らす家族のなかで、犬のかたちをした「愛」なんだというぼくの説。犬は、犬のようで「愛」なんだ、というと気障すぎるんですけれど、言いたくなっちゃう。ほっとかれる分量も、軽さも重さもしつこさも飽きも、みんな犬のかたちをした家族の「愛」なんだと思うのよ。その「愛」を、たくさんの人が見守ってるんだろうな。うちの犬のかたちをした「愛」は、いまおもしろいかたちをして、寝息をたててます。
ーー糸井重里が『今日のダーリン』の中で