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I’ve been thinking a lot about growing older these days; maybe its the current pandemic we are all living through, or perhaps it’s that I see my parents growing older. Last year, I had three friends die earlier than expected–time has a way of sometimes forcing you to reflect on your life. Today I want to talk about one of my companions of almost 20 years, our little LuLu, and as I do please take a moment to consider your life and the life of your pet and how you plan to provide for them as they age.

LuLu got off to a rough start with an owner who from the time she was a puppy made her live outside in the moderately cold short winter, and the heat and humidity of North Carolina summer. As a result, she was brought to the vet in poor health, she had parasite mites in her skin, along with losing most of her fur. Her owner was given two options, relinquish her to the vet for treatment; or face animal abuse charges. Lu took her situation in stride, enduring dipping solutions a few times a week, that made her reek of rotten eggs, wearing onesies to keep her warm, and trotting around behind the scenes at the animal hospital where she provided joy to all her caretakers. We came along about two months after she was initially brought to the vet, this is what happens when you have a daughter who works in a vet clinic! Mom, Dad you have to see this puppy she is so sweet, please come and look at her!

I brought MaeMae along to meet her, (our only dog at the time), and we all fell instantly in love. Mae adopted her as one of her lost puppies; and little Lu’s exuberance for life was contagious. She adored us, following my husband and I around all day until finally collapsing from the exhaustion of trying to keep up on her very short legs. The joy this little dog has brought us through the years can never be measured, and long after she leaves us, it will never be forgotten.

She has witnessed our fears, joys, sadness and loves. She has been present for all the life changing events; watching three children graduate from high school, go to college, join the military, and get married. She has borne witness to the loss of friends and family members when death came to claim them; and she has felt the love and joy when new grandchildren have arrived.

But now as each day dawns, we are grateful for one more day with our little Lu. She sleeps much of the day now, and even though she wakes a little slower she still manages to take her morning walk and she is always excited for her breakfast when we return. Her eyesight is poor now, so every 6 months she sees an eye specialist near us; and we purchased her a harness and bumper from Muffin’s Halo https://muffinshalo.com/?msclkid=5ff878c7dc1912b1c88818ab7cf87ca1 for when her eyesight final leaves her blind.

We have also purchased a product called pooch pads, https://poochpad.com/; these are used to protect her bed from occasional overnight accidents. When those accidents do happen I happily bath her with colloidal oatmeal shampoo by Nature’s Specialties https://www.naturesspecialties.com/ to protect her skin from acid in urine. I have gotten used to carrying her up and down stairs when she just seems too exhausted to do it one more time.

I understand that to many people this might sound like we are prolonging her life; and I would agree that is exactly what we are doing. Most vets have a quality of life scale they advise their clients to use; some of the items included are eating and drinking, urinating, defecating, and playing. I assure you we are still ahead of the scale, but we do not live in denial. We know that there will come a day when those scales will tilt pass the point that no matter how much we want her life to continue, we will have to make the hardest and most difficult choice. For her sake and our own we will leave her with the dignity she deserves; we will be grateful for a life so well lived, full of endless joy and love. We will count ourselves blessed for the fact that she came into our lives and shared it all with us.

So today, I ask you; what will you do to help your dog as they become that elder canine? I pray that your answer is not, I can’t handle it and I will drop them at a shelter when they get to old for me to deal with–because truly my friends if that is how you feel, please just get a stuffed animal! Your dog has spent its life living for you and loving you completely; dig deep and find the compassion you need to see them through their final days with you. If you can do this, no matter how difficult, you will find peace as your pet draws their last breathe with you at their side. As you reflect on the totality of their life, you are given one of the greatest opportunities of your own life, to “look through a glass darkly https://catholicexchange.com/through-a-glass-darkly-the-deep-theology-behind-pauls-phrase. One of your hardest days, gives you the opportunity to look within yourself, to see very hazily the slightest image of God to know through your sadness that your pet is saying, “well done, well done”.

We all have bad days including our dogs, for example Romeo looks forward to his “alone” time with Mom; a walk without the dog posse everyday at lunchtime. When he doesn’t get his walk, due to my hectic schedule there is a gradual increase in his anxiety level. How do I know? Because we walk at about the same time each day, he watches me for the subtle clues that I am getting ready, a bottle of water, a light sweater or coat and those beloved words, “Com’on boy!” His whole body expression changes, he enthusiastically jumps off the couch and is ready to go, as opposed to the days my schedule doesn’t allow for a walk and I find him, lying on the couch head down, watching me closely as I walk through each room carrying on with the business of my day. His anxiety is marked in other ways also, he will licking his paws, he sometimes paces the house, and general seems more restless.

Lulu, on the other hand, is the epitome of relaxation; perhaps it comes from her 19+ years on earth; well done my girl! But thinking back on her as a puppy she was always laid back, nothing ever seemed to bother her, one of the most happy-go-lucky dogs you could ever meet.

Lady is the complete opposite, the dog never seems to unwind. Even when she is asleep, her paws are stiff like a cartoon cat flying through the air. She seems completely unable to totally relax and enjoy life. Sure, she can be a happy dog and no one is more excited to see Daddy come home at the end of the day, or to take a ride in the truck to the dump once a week; but she can also be surly beyond comparison when she doesn’t want any of the other dogs near her, which is quite often.

Isabella, where do I start? Totally fun loving, has a wonderful loving playfulness, loves walks and running in the yard chasing the squirrels every chance she gets out; but oh does she define general aggression, probably brought on by never being secure in her permanent living environment! We first noticed it about a week after we brought her home, she seemed awfully protective of her bed, and then we noticed that when the food came out she would get more agitated. At first, we thought it was her getting used to a new home, and excitement because she was becoming familiar with the routine and knew when to expect dinner. We had dealt with this issue when MaeMae was alive, so I quickly put a halt to it by separating her from the other dogs immediately after her last walk of the day, which is about 1 1/2 hours before I feed them, reinforcing training and working with her everyday for about 30 mins.

Which brings me back to the title “Temperaments”. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, an internationally renowned author of self-help books, once wrote, “Take the time to observe animals. What you learn will enrich your life.” He couldn’t have been more correct. Each animal, that walks the earth teaches us not only about their little idiosyncrasies, but if we truly think about it they also enlighten us about our own perceived faults and goodness. Observing animals both in nature, and those within family homes and following their interactions and reactions to other animals they have contact with often mirror those interactions of humans. We all have unique living conditions, maybe we’re single, married with a full house of children, or retired. Perhaps we work from home, or have a long commute. How many other animals if any are in the home, or is animal interaction limited to walks, and dog parks? All of these living situations create their own challenges both humans and the dogs that live with them.

We too notice when people are cranky, happy, fulfilled, depressed, sad, and lonely. The question is, What do we then do about it? Do we intervene and try to make that person’s day a little better, do we congratulate and celebrate along side them? Do we ignore their trials, and go on with our lives; or simply plead ignorance to their needs. Dogs don’t have the ability to fix the problems of people, they simply exist in the now trying to deal with the stress hormones we release whether good or bad; which is also the strongest difference between dogs and humans. We can choose to be mindful of the behavior of others; we can choose to intervene and possibly alleviate some pain or take notice of someone’s happiness; dogs are the accepters of our reactions; good or bad they are by our sides. Take the time today to really observe your dog, or the people in your house. Watching, and listening are qualities we could all spend more time mastering, be your dog and whatever you decide to do, remember to be accepting.

Yesterday, Romeo and I went on a walk in the woods. It’s not unusual for us to walk, on an almost daily basis weather and bugs permitting. And before anyone gets concerned about the other three furry loves of my life, rest assured they all are walked extensively and daily. What was different yesterday, was the new unchartered direction into the woods, and the fact that we were accompanied by our neighbor and his dog. The minute Romeo saw Rocky it was as if he became more alive, paws down, butt in the air, a friendly playful bark and wagging tail. He most definitely was happy to see his new friend.

I also noticed other things, he walked along more attentive than he would normally be, seemingly excited to be going on this adventure. He was excited when he saw Rocky head into the water up to his chest for a refreshing cooling off and a drink. Romeo, who is usually frightened of water, would have joyously joined him if I hadn’t stopped him from plunging into the very cold water. You may wonder why I didn’t allow him in the water, I have a thing about unknown bodies of water in North Carolina. Probably, at this time of year everything would have been fine, but unknown algae, alligators and snakes are things I prefer not to tangle with at any time of the year.

An hour later, as we said good-bye to Rocky until our next walk, an exhausted Romeo collapsed on the floor and took a well-deserved nap. What was it about this walk that I found the need to address all my readers? Well, quite simply just like people, our dogs can get stuck in their daily ruts of doing the same things. Yes, dogs like and expect routine from their owners, but glory be when that routine is altered with a fun, interesting experience for both you and your dog, that soul spark within them, just like humans becomes more aglow and fills us both with joy and happiness for the break in our day.

Today, why not surprise your dog with a different walking experience? Take a new route around your neighborhood, or jump in the car and go on a hike, go to a park any play in the snow. Whatever you can do, even the smallest change, I promise will make both you and your dog just a little happier. Enjoy your day and your dog!

It’s been a chaotic last couple of weeks, and for the humans, this time has been filled with worry and sadness. Sadness because my daughter’s beloved beagle, Allie, who was believed to have an abscessed tooth and went through the removal and dental cleaning followed by antibiotics and no improvement has gone to romp golden fields, and we know that she was met at the gates by MaeMae, Hank and all the other numerous dogs, cats and other animals we have loved through the years. Allie died from cancer in her jaw, sinus cavities and eye.

Worry, because Isabella was diagnosed with a pea-size mammary tumor that was removed on the 1st of February and we await another week of concern before finding out if it is benign or malignant ( it’s a 50/50 draw).

Interesting fact that I recently learned from some breeders I have been corresponding with and various articles I have read; female dogs who are allowed to go into a first heat run a 8% increase in risk for developing mammary tumors. If allowed to go into a second heat without becoming pregnant that risk increases to 26%. If you currently have a puppy who has not reached her first heat, or a dog that hasn’t been spayed, I would ask you to read the following article, published by the American College of Veterinarian Surgeons. https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/mammary-tumors

So what should we take away from the last couple of weeks? A few things come to mind, make it a practice to love all over your dog at least once a month. Checking for any lumps, or sore areas. Closely monitor how your dog is behaving; are they constantly licking one area, or have they lost interest in their food or playing? Being a good dog parent is very similar to being a good human parent, the only difference is that your dogs don’t ever reach an age where they can tell you they don’t feel good.

Philosophically, what have I learned through all this, well that part is easy. Your dog lives life to the fullest every day, they don’t complain, even when they feel their worst. If they are still capable, they get up look you in the eyes and wag their tail, just so very grateful for another day with you. They are your devoted and loyal companion until the very end; and they leave that knowing and difficult decision on when their journey has been completed up to you. They leave the worry about whether you as their human companion, are making the right decision in a timely manner about mercifully ending their life, the fear of what it means to both live without them and to be the person who decides to take a canine life from this earth, and the tears of the love you have felt and the emptiness of their loss in your life.

Dogs get the easy part in some respects, they live in the moment and that is their joy, you are their joy! Worry never crosses their minds, fear mostly likely has, but they have never been afraid with you. Tears? It is my belief that dogs sense our distress, but if God had allowed them to cry, we would be comforting them and not the other way around. Dogs have been given to us for many reasons, but one of their most important is their ability to comfort and calm.

If we as humans can train ourselves to let go of worry and fear and focus only on the life and love that surround us, maybe then we could get up every morning, as long as we are capable, with a smile on our faces, and joy in our hearts to greet each new day and those we love.

Start today to be grateful for life and the part your dog plays in your existence.

I often find myself wondering what my dogs are smelling when they lift their noses into the air. I’ve found that on very windy days the dogs seem more carefree, they have more bounce in their paws and they appear submersed in the air around them as they walk and play. They might be in mid-run when suddenly they stop for what I presume is no reason and just stand with noses skyward. Now granted there is much to smell in the forest; rabbits, squirrels, bear, deer, etc., you get the idea. But sometimes, I find myself asking if it is something more. How do they take in for example, the smell of the ocean, about 12 miles away, all the forest smells and the dog next door? Are they able to categorize, remember and store these smells for future use? Could dogs on a very primitive level be analyzing this information?

A dog’s sense of smell is obviously amazing, otherwise how could humans train them to sniff out disease, use them in disaster and recovery scenarios, as well as recovering drugs from traffickers’.

I don’t have any amazing dog tales to tell you, such as my dog found a missing child after two nights out in the cold. What I have is a curiosity about how dogs see, hear, and smell the world, and apparently I am not alone. Cat Warren, author, professor at North Carolina State University and a cadaver-dog handler was also intrigued with many aspects of dogs and the science behind their perception of the world. I would encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about how their dog views the world to read her book, What The Dog Knows. You may discover that your dog(s) have just as busy a day as you do.

What I am more concerned about in this blog, is bringing your attention to how your dog’s senses may actually complement your own, especially in cases of impending danger. Pay attention to your dogs routine, if they suddenly stop wanting to do something they normally look forward to, question why? This action in itself doesn’t suggest impending doom, your dog might just be feeling ill, but pay attention and question. If you usually walk your dog and they suddenly raise their fur, look around you. Remember the Boxing Day tsunami off the coast of Sumatra? Dogs and other animals had changed their normal routines as noted in the article published online at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2005/01/news-animals-tsunami-sense-coming/.

A more recent article from 2018 posted by the American Kennel Club, explained how anxiety increased in dogs prior to earthquakes, with research providing evidence that dogs may be able to hear the high-frequency of sounds generated by impending earthquakes. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/can-dogs-predict-earthquakes/

Humans like to think of themselves as intuitive; but I ask you, “What about your dog?” When things just don’t feel right to you, look at your dog. What are they doing, is their routine normal, do they seem anxious? Are they trying to escape from their home or hiding when they would otherwise not behavior in this fashion? Take that moment and assess–does your intuition complement what your dog is telling you? Being willing to observe and deduce both your immediate apprehension and your dogs behavior could be more important than you realize.

I woke up this morning and was immediately brought back to the reality of the US Capitol chaos yesterday; but then Isabella woke up, crawled out of her dog bed and proceeded to conduct her morning routine of doggie down stretch, followed by an immediate run to the kitchen for her morning treat. She still hasn’t grasped the idea that the treat comes after her outside morning business. I finished taking care of all the other dog needs walking, feeding, medicine and it was time for my morning coffee and reflections.

Today my thoughts turned to everything my dogs are not in a human world. They are not for example, racist, fascist, capitalist, socialist, or communist. Dogs either trust you for who you are or they don’t–usually with good reason. Most dogs are not prone to violence (unless raised cruelly), they are not destructive (unless you count the puppy years and the many lost shoes, rugs, furniture, etc.); rather dogs are loyal and protect those they love, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs or financial status.

Dogs do not worry about the future, they honestly trust that you, their human provider will take care of everything. They live in the now, and vie for your love and attention amidst your hurried life of cell phones, computers, work, raising children, etc. Did you know that your dog has the intelligence of a two-year old child? Consider that for a moment. If you have ever had a little human of roughly two-years, you know that your facial expressions can be read by your child, they understand roughly 50-100 words, their ability to learn is based on what their parents and caregivers put into their early education. In certain ways, the same can be said of your dog. I urge you to take the time to learn about your dog, watch them as they go about their day, and please train them. They live to earn your praise, they feel your love in the way you pet them, talk to them and look at them. They could care less about the political or economic status of the world. So again, I remind you be more like your dog, look at each other with trust, take time to play, and focus your life more on living in each moment–if you do, there is no way you cannot find happiness even for a few minutes.

Even though the below video is a few years old, I think you will find it interesting.

The unique wonder of each of my dogs is that they have individually been tasked with teaching me (human) something different about who I was; and who I was meant to become.

My first dog, Lassie, a collie of course, came to me in the innocence and wonder of a young child–she was loved unconditionally because as a child of loving parents, I knew no different.

Lady, my English setter was the lover of nature, and showed me the beauty of running through fields, jumping in leaves, racing just to run, and the quietness of the mossy forest. She helped me to discover my own love of the environment as we often walked through dappled sunshine breaking through treetops to expose the most gorgeous trilliums growing all around us.

Dixie, I believe she tried to teach me patience, but as a young mother and wife, I just wasn’t ready to sit, stay and learn the lessons she was sent to teach me–Dixie I’m sorry I failed you.

Daisy was with us only a short time, but she exposed me to life with a Miniature Pinscher for the first time and brought love, playfulness and the knowledge that life sometimes ends to quickly causing us to catch our breathe and realize if only for a few moments the gift of genuinely living each day to the fullest.

Phoebe was able to bring unbridled joy to our growing family. Nothing like a small pony in the house to cause total chaos and laughter!

Martini (no we didn’t name her) showed me what happens to the spirit as a result of being subjected to the cruel conditions of puppy mills. Years later, I was rewarded with one of the most beautiful sights I personally would ever witness in a dog. She was the one to finally teach me the meaning of patience, I believe I gave her the gift of courage in return. After almost two years of living exclusively under our bed, coming out only to run out the door and do her business, she braved the world and dared to overcome her fears, living the rest of her life in the light of day.

LuLu is still at the age of 19 the dog that has taught me what undying dedication, devotion and love of life truly mean. She brings endless joy, laughter and kisses galore on a daily basis, even though she now sleeps quite a bit.

MaeMae, a second Miniature Pinscher who was torn too soon from her puppies and dropped at a shelter taught me over 17 years, that love can overcome loneliness and depression. She truly was my doggie soulmate who is missed everyday.

Lady (number 2), a Miniature Pinscher and Chihuahua mix showed me first hand the cruel side of humanity while I was living halfway around the world–she balanced it with a joyous gratitude to just be alive, and loves nothing more than to be in the laps of those she trusts.

Romeo, my only boy in a world of girls continues to teach me on a daily basis that its ok to slow down, to sit on a sidewalk and watch for awhile, to play, to dance, to cry, to laugh at childlike antics, to always persevere and never give up even on the worst of days. His most important lesson so far, we really should take more time to gaze into each other’s eyes (dogs and humans). For in doing so, we really can discover the depth and beauty of life, reflect on our own journey and bring joy to each other’s souls.

Isabella (our newest Miniature Pinscher mix) hasn’t revealed her lessons yet, but I look forward to them and hope I learn what she was sent to teach me.

Spend some time with your dog, they’re here for a reason. Discover the gift they have been sent to teach you, both you and humanity will be better for it.

If you have never lives as an expatriate American woman on her own in Saudi Arabia, it is a life experience like no other. Because of my time in the Middle East I can relate a few items with authority. Be careful what you wish your utopian America to look like, you may gain something that you had no intention of ever bringing upon yourself or those you love.

For example, all those rights you now often take for granted, little things such as driving, traveling unaccompanied, leaving the country whenever you want, dressing as you like, playing music and dancing in public. Writing about your own political views openly–forget all that–you are living in a unique world where the word “equality” means only money and power. Your words and actions mean nothing, unless they cross the line established by money and power; then they mean jail time or worse.

So what do you do in a cultural situation that is so uniquely different to the world you know? Silent contemplation. Gazing into your dogs eyes, petting their soft fur, sometimes crying until you fall asleep next to them, only to wake up and find them curled up next to you guarding your very life with their own. Understanding your pain, without you ever saying a word, somehow knowing that life can be very intolerant sometimes, and yet accepting that their job is to protect you at all cost.

Tell your dog thank you today by gazing into his eyes, you’ll not only learn about yourself, you’ll see how deeply your dog loves you. Go ahead, contemplate silently.

What do I mean when I say know dogs, know life? Life is tough, there are responsibilities, choices to be made, marriages, divorces, births, death and always taxes. We deal with children (sometimes), other working adults, job changes (often by choice, but occasionally we are demoralized by being classified as redundant.

For me, I have found over accumulated years of wisdom that dogs help me understand myself, my purpose on earth and other people better. Obviously, I have chosen this title on purpose, because for me, without my four-legged companions to have NO dogs, means to me a lesser understanding or poorer quality of life; therefore no deeper meaning to my existence–NO real life.

I hope you consider joining me in this adventure; and in doing so gain a better understanding of your own life through your dog(s).