Tag: #ilovedogs

Lessons from Dogs (Family and Gratitude)

I love dogs. I actually love animals, but I am partial to dogs (and cats). My blog title probably should have included dogs and food.

Every one waiting for their walks

I spend most of my free time with my dogs and all of my time with them when I work from home. There is even a dog bed in my home office so they can stay close to me. I love my dogs, all four of them. Cats are great, but they can be fickle and aloof and independent. And they are not always happy to see me. Dogs, on the other hand, are loyal, loving, and always happy. Wiggle butts are a real sign of happiness.

Cuddles by the fire with Ruby and Charlie

I identify people by their dogs and I know the dog before I know the human. I remember a dog’s name better that I remember a person’s name. I am sure there are a number of people in my neighborhood who know me because of dogs. I walk them every day. Sometimes one at a time (that’s a lot of walking with four dogs) but most days I walk them in twos – the littles and the bigs, as I affectionately call them. The littles are Bailey and Charlie; they are also the two youngest each weighing under 50lbs. The bigs are Ruby and Eve, the two older dogs who both weigh in at over 50lbs. I know that people identify me because of my dogs since I have been stopped in the grocery store or at a local festival and asked, “Aren’t you that lady from Crestview that has all the dogs?” Yes, that’s me.

    Hiking Adventures

    We walk everyday (weather permitting). I alternate who will get the first walk. Upon departing the house, with all doors closed behind me, I can hear the mournful howling or anxious barking of whichever two were left behind. Everybody wants to be first. The littles get the longer walk, usually 2-3.5 miles and the bigs a shorter walk that rarely breaks 2 miles. I know the names of most of the dogs in our neighborhood, but like I said earlier, I don’t necessarily know all of the names of their owners. And that’s ok. Dog people are okay with that, being identified by their furry companion, or companions in my case.

    After walk exhaustion

    We have a very dog-friendly neighborhood filled with all types of dogs, big dogs and little dogs, senior dogs and puppies, furry dogs and short haired dogs, fat dogs and thin dogs, pure-breds and mutts. And their owners, my neighbors, also come from every spectrum imaginable, men and women, young people and retirees, liberal and conservative, natives and transplants, white collar workers and blue collar workers, and a multitude of nationalities and races. But the dogs don’t view each other by their different backgrounds or by the categories of gender, age, race, religion or political persuasion. They view each other as coming from the same family – canis lupus familiaris.

    They are all dogs. It doesn’t matter if they are registered with the American Kennel Club or adopted from a shelter, if they are male or female, neutered or spayed, young or old, shaggy or short haired. They are happy to have the opportunity to walk through the neighborhood with their owners, run in their fenced in yards, chase a ball, play frisbee, roll in the grass, dig in the yard, lie in the sun, bark at passersby, or just sleep on the porch. You see, dogs don’t have an agenda or expectations. They are not worried about impressing each other or out to serve some self-interest. If you take some time and watch a dog, you can see clearly see what gratitude and happiness looks like. They are an example of pure, unadulterated joy. Dogs take nothing for granted. They have low expectations, they are accepting, and the love unconditionally. They delight in the simple things in life; a run/walk with their owners, the company of friends, the opportunity to play, and moments to sit, rest and just be.

    You see, we can learn a lot from dogs. It doesn’t matter where they came from, what their current situation is, who their owners are, or how they came to be where they are. They are all part of the same family – canis lupus familiaris. They are dogs. And they know gratitude. Gratitude leads to joy.

    What love looks like

    Maybe if we started to treat each other as part of the same family – humankind, and less like all of the labels that we attach to ourselves and to one another, we would be better able to operate from a place of gratitude and travel that path that leads to joy. Today, look beyond someone who is not like you and see and appreciate the human being who they are. Be thankful for the simple things in your life. And take that first step on the path to joy. And today, please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.

    Lessons from Dogs

    I have been reading the book The Fifth Mountain, by Paul Coelho.  There is a lot of wisdom packed into this book.  A passage that I read last night struck me: “A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”  I read it before bed and pondered it as I fell asleep.  Each time I woke in the middle of the night, I contemplated it even more. 

    Now some people might not fully understand this or appreciate this, but I am a dog person. Full blown dog person. We have rescued 4 dogs in the past six years, two of those dogs in the past 3 months. I have a t-shirt that reads “Dog Mom” (although I also have a 30-year-old son and an 18-year-old son). I have a mug that reads “I love dogs. It’s people that annoy me.” And I spend most of my free time with my pack. The two youngest dogs (Charlie and Bailey) sleep with my husband and me every night. I let them lick my face and crawl in my lap. Even Ruby, our largest dog at 55lbs, thinks she is lap dog. I will even share my beverages with them. I would rather drink after my dog than drink after another person (my husband and sons are the exception). They can get me muddy and I love to wrestle and cuddle them. When they get sick, I don’t become nearly a queasy (but I still don’t handle it all that well) as I do when a human in my house has the same problem. Therefore, I relate most things to my dogs and not to people.

    Sleeping dogs…

    When I read that passage, I immediately thought of my dogs. I know most people would reflect on children, not me. I’m not great with kids, nor do I really relate to them even though I have experience in raising them and being around them. But dogs – my dogs – have taught me the same things, especially in these uncertain times.

    The events of the past few weeks have not phased them. They have adjusted quite well to the new normal of having humans with them all the time. They have found joy in spending time with their people, going for more walks than normal, getting bathed more frequently (thanks to the torrential rains and resulting mud we have experienced this past week), watching movies (I thought the dogs needed to see Bolt), and just generally living their best lives. They are the epitome of happiness. I am pretty sure the shelter in place order is their idea of paradise. They love their people, love being with their people, never tire of their people, and are just generally appreciative of spending time with their people, no mater the situation. Right there is a huge lesson we can learn from dogs – Appreciate the people in your lives.

    My dogs are always busy with something, even if its sleeping.  They pack a lot into their days and help us pack a lot into ours as we all learn to navigate this new normal. The daily walks not only keep them busy and active, but also help us fill in our time and get some exercise and fresh air.  They get us outside to play ball in the yard.  When indoors they wrestle, play tug of war, and even keep the cats on their toes by playing with them (a combination of wrestling, tag and hide and seek).  They spend hours chewing, working on deer antlers or Nyla-bones.  But best of all, they know when their people need them.  When we need a break from the stress that inevitably sneaks into our days because of the strangeness that COVID-19 has brought into our lives; they nudge us for an ear rub, lay on our feet, lick our faces, or put their paws into our laps letting us know that everything will be ok – eventually. 

    The dogs lying on my feet.

    Lastly, the dogs make no bones about (no pun intended) letting us know exactly what they want or need. They each tell us when they need to go out. Eve (our oldest dog) has an internal alarm that lets her know when it is dinner time and when its time for her bed to made up for the evening (that’s another story). She proceeds to announce those times to our household daily. Ruby will let us know when she doesn’t have to go out and when she just wants to sleep. And she snores like a drunken sailor. She will reluctantly join the pack in regular outings only because she knows eventually, she will be forced to. Charlie tells us when he wants to play fetch and tug of war by bringing us toys. He’s like a little energizer bunny. Bailey lets us know when she needs some cuddles by putting her paws on your leg until you pick her up. If you are standing up, she will sit between your feet until she has your attention. And if we haven’t given them enough attention or spent enough time with them, they let us know by singing the song of their people or by just generally being persistent with nudges, playful growls, and happy barks. When all else fails, they climb – uninvited – into our laps.

    I can’t help but think that maybe this is what God is doing right now.  Trying to get our attention.  Trying to get us to slow down and return our focus to Him. Trying to get us to re-order our priorities.  Many people have kicked Him out, haven’t made room or time for Him.  I think maybe He is trying desperately to get back into our lives. 

    As odd as it sounds, there have been so many blessings in the midst of this chaos.  While I cannot attend daily mass like I normally would, I have been attending virtually with Fr. Michael Gossett.  He has celebrated mass everyday for the students, parents, faculty and staff of the Steubenville Catholic Schools (and anyone who wishes to attend).  That is a blessing in and of itself.   The bigger blessing is that my husband has been participating with me.  I have actually gotten to spend time with my 18-year-old son.  We have had dinner together nightly as a family.  We have also had movie night and a family Atari tournament.  We are talking more, reading more, praying more.  We are checking in more often on family and friends, and we are spending less time on the superficial meaningless things that have filled our lives.  Those are real, tangible blessings. 

    Spicy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps for dinner

    So today, lets learn from dogs how to be happy and how to stay busy within in all the turmoil.  And especially today, let’s give God the praise and the attention that He deserves.  Look for the blessings buried within the chaos and the confusion.  I promise you; they are there, and they are abundant.  Please continue to pray for all of those on the frontlines and in the trenches as we continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic as a community.  And please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.