DOG DAYS

Usually I am moved to post a blog entry after some personal experience or musing brings me to the discovery of new insight. Usually it is a broad concept that I happen upon and hope to shed new light on through my writing. Although I would like to think that my topics inspire others to think differently and incorporate something new into their lives, in many cases the ideas I present may be too vague or intangible to know immediately how to make use of them.

Well today I have a very simple and very specific piece of advice to share: Play with your dog. Even when you don’t have time for it, just do it! It will make a world of a difference for both of you.

I know that I am in a very fortunate position right now in which I don’t have many commitments or time restraints and most of you have full-time jobs and/or are otherwise busy people. But with more stress in your lives, I feel the advice is all the more important. Others of you don’t even have dogs (and for this my heart goes out to you).  If that is the case and you were really looking for a no-thinking-required, applicable recommendation, I will not fault you for disregarding this piece. However, if you’re open to molding a sound bit of advice to fit your personal needs, I welcome you canine-less folk to stick around.  

As most know, I have shared the last eleven years of my life with one amazing chocolate lab. He is my nurse. He is my protector. He is my companion. He is my best friend. He means everything to me and I would long for him constantly during my time abroad. There was nothing I wanted more than to see his smiling face and wagging tail or to cuddle up next to him.

It’s easy to see how much you love a dog when he’s far away. The same way that it’s easy to give a lot of attention to a friend’s dog when you only see him once-in-a-blue-moon. On the contrary, when you are lucky enough to be around your best friend everyday you seem to forget how important he is.

You’re busy—we’ve all been there. He brings toys to you and jumps up on you when you’re in the middle of things that have to get done. Sometimes he even knocks stuff over and causes a mess. Sometimes he’s really needy and cries or barks till you yell at him to stop. Sometimes he follows your every move and it drives you insane. Sometimes he just doesn’t know when to give up.

You know why? Because “although he is but part of your world, you are his whole world.” Dogs are incredibly smart beings, but it’s really hard for them to understand why you can’t play right now. You’re his best friend. Why wouldn’t you wanna throw his ball or go on a walk when he does? What can be more important than that? As humans, we can probably think of quite a few answers to that question but I bet your dog can’t think of one.

I love Charlie being a part of my life, but often I take that for granted. I’m happy to throw around his toys when I think it’s time for that, but when I’m in the middle of something I tend to only half-pay attention to him and ignore him unless he comes up to me. Around dinnertime, however, I realized that that was all I had done today.

As I was filling up the sink to wash my dishes I felt a very intentional nudge from behind and there was Charlie and his (stuffed animal) flea. Usually I would coo over his toy, tug it a time or two, pat him on the head, and get on with my business. But something today told me otherwise. Today my intuition told me to turn off the water and truly play with his flea. I focused on that. I wasn’t thinking about what else had to get done and that he was taking up my time. Instead, this was Charlie’s time. Charlie and me and the flea.

We probably played for half an hour. I don’t know for sure—neither of us was counting. We eventually played with many more of his toys and we later went on a walk too. He was so genuinely happy. And I couldn’t get this ridiculous grin off my face. Up until that point it had been a pretty gloomy, unproductive rainy day but now I’m in this place where I couldn’t feel better!

He did this for me—and it was so easy, once I gave him the chance. All he asked for was attention and once I granted him that wish the happiness flowed between us. Maybe you think you don’t have any more time to waste like that, but I bet that you could make the time. And I promise you it won’t be a waste.

None of us want to think the terrible thought—but the truth is that one day our furry friends aren’t gonna be here anymore.  There’s not gonna be a water bowl that needs filling, a cold nose in your face early in the morning, or a toy nudged at your behind; so appreciate it while you can.

Play with his toys when he asks you. Talk to him lovingly. When you do that, look him in the eye—he knows the difference. Listen to him too—he’ll want to show you if something is wrong with him because he trusts you to take care of it. But he can’t do that unless you give him the chance. Take him on walks. Let him spend the extra time sniffing that one super-interesting bush. Let him run free and run fast. Take him for a swim. Cut up an apple just for him. Give him a treat for no reason. Only pull the shades down to dog-height (he likes to look out the windows, even at night). Say goodnight to him and tell him you love him. Those are the kinds of things that will make him fall asleep thinking “today was the BEST day,” yet they really don’t take that much from you.

Dogs are so much simpler than us. And yet there is so much we can learn from them.