Life Lessons from my dog

 First Snowfall, November 2008

My dog reminds me each and every day of several rudimentary but essential life lessons:

Attitude and energy!  She approaches each day anew, frisky and ready from the get-go, to play, explore, run, jump and generally live fully. 

Get your 10,000 steps in!  Try to ignore her need for at least two good walks a day, and she'll stare you down, follow you around without mercy, or drag out her toys in the living room and drop them on your lap.

Eat and drink well!  Lots of water and nutritious food on a regular basis, with a few mooched treats whenever I can get them.

Get your rest and relaxation! If I don't sleep and rest when I can, how will I chase down my four-legged friends, or give those rabbits a run for their money? 

Attend to your personal hygiene every day!  You know, clean between your toes, lick your fur down carefully, chew off the burrs and hairballs from your legs, and get the thorny twigs out of your tail.  Preferably, do all this before the rest of the pack has fallen asleep; your snoring is probably bad enough.

Ask for what you want, and the odds of fulfillment improve!  For example, if you love to be massaged and scratched, roll over on your back to invite tummy rubs; greet your loved ones with enthusiasm and excitement when they come in from work; and place your head on their lap with that "oh so sad, I need my ears scratched" look.

 Keep yourself intellectually stimulated, in her case, with chase a stick, steal a ball, run with doggie friends, check out the squirrels in the kingdom, or train your owners to feed you cheese for the silliest of tricks.  They are so easily entertained, and once you get them trained, they generally give you few problems!!

The greatest pleasure is watching her everyday delight with the here and now, her enthusiasm for physical movement, her zest for simply being alive, and her presence to the moment.

Comments

[Mo]

Hey Doc, this is my favourite bit on your website, love it!