Common Sense

What has happened to common sense, to being a good person, to following your instincts? Actually I think I know the answer but I don't know how to change things. I think we've become so accustomed to "value meals" by the number, life happening in tiny, short bursts of time, and so many demands on our time that we have forgotten how to THINK, how to FEEL, how to just BE.

I've been reading John O'Hurley's book, It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump, and I am loving it. It's funny, insightful, and speaks to my soul. He talks about being a young boy and going to his pond with his dog to contemplate the great mysteries of life. Why don't we do that any more? I think it's because we are scared to think on our own. It might not fit into the status quo and that would be bad -- or at least we think it will be bad. Why don't we take some cues from our dogs and live life for different reasons other than being where we need to be when we need to be there? Dogs don't care about that; dogs love life and love experiencing life!

Thinking outside the box and trying something new could be good, it could result in wonderful things happening in our world! Today I challenge myself, and anyone reading this, to think, just for a moment, outside the box. Find your pond with your dog (wherever and whatever that may be) and contemplate life for more than a second. Good things are bound to happen if we can rediscover our humanity. While others might wonder, know that I am thankful that you did something and hopeful that, together, we can change the world just a little.

Pack Theory Debunked

I found this great article on the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) website today:
http://www.apdt.com/petowners/choose/dominance.aspx

It seems not a week goes by that I don't get a phone call or an email from someone who is sure their dog is trying to "dominate" the household by displaying certain behaviors. According to current research, nothing could be further from the truth!

I heard a term this weekend and I am going to "steal" it for this conversation -- "innocently selfish." Yes, dogs are selfish, but not in the way humans are. Dogs are selfish because they are hardwired to do what they need to do to get what they want/need. Sometimes this is selfish because it is done without consideration; but it is never done to hurt a person or a dog -- it is simply for survival. Therefore dogs are innocently selfish.

I think the sooner we all come to understand why dogs are the way dogs are AND we understand that they are just that -- DOGS -- the sooner we will have better, more accurate, more mutually beneficial relationships with our canine companions.