ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE…I’m relearning from my dogs?!?

 
Ok we many have heard of “all I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten”. As much as I may agree with that statement I am not in 100% agreement. ALL I needed to learn was STARTED as the ground rules of life that began in kindergarten. Marriage and Kids refreshed the same need, but right now I am in the middle of a refresher course from my dogs. YES you read that correctly and no I am not crazy nor have I “gone to the dogs”. Rather I am quite happy I have dogs that teach me as much as I try to teach them. Daily my dogs prove I am not a know-it-all and need to learn more.

1. IF you drop it, pick it up or a DOODLE will steal, swallow or give chase with it. Dogs remind us to practice daily cleanliness habits. Kids and spouse help out in this area as well. Practice what you preach is the rule of thumb especially with dogs. Flip side, while a teenager leaves a wet towel on the floor, a spouse may walk over it, your dog will not let it go unnoticed and alert you to this fact.

2. Do not yell……a dog’s hearing is approx 8 times (or more) more acute than a human’s. YOUR DOG heard you the 1st time, but chose not to listen. Ever have dog run away from you? Since they’re canines we can’t say they’re just human but like humans who listens 100% of the time? Ever see a dog run away from someone angrily calling them to come back? I’d say that is one smart dog and maybe heard the expression “run for the hills”. A dog in some ways has needs like a human: kindness, forgiveness, and much more. I have heard of spouses completely ignoring their “other half’s” every word (some on a daily basis too). Or how about kids who choose to ignore or possibly forget rules and do as they please, yet we expect a dog to be perfect? Heck, how many times did we teach our dog to come when called and sometimes give them tons of praise along with a food treat? A dog will make mistakes and so do humans. Thus, I needed to learn this is a fact of life but yelling doesn’t solve it. Creative thinking, problem solving, communication and guidance skills are necessary for optimal results. Add in a sense of humor as it does help get through a “rough” day.

3. Patience and training are part of an essential daily diet of love. Kids and dogs don’t raise themselves. WE all forget things and need reminders, we all need 2nd chances. If a child needs to be told something 4000 times before it is committed to short term memory, why not give a dog the same chance? I know, a dog remembers to sit, stay, heel, lie down, fetch, but cannot remember to leave your socks alone or not be tempted to eat a pork tenderloin cooling off on your kitchen counter unattended. How many of you have woken up to see the last bit of cheesecake, leftovers and other good edibles gone without admission of the guilty party? Possibly ”guilty till proven innocent” has some merit with dogs? Dogs are not kids, they are animals and animals are food scavengers as well as domesticated animals that need direction via training. No training = no rules and they then will follow instinctual direction.

4. Unconditional love: own a doodle or any dog for that matter, and you will experience it, as words alone cannot describe it fully. Ever try leaving a room for 5 seconds, 5 minutes or leave for 5 hours and see how they greet you each and every time. They aren’t moody, nor hold a grudge, want to demand to know why you are late coming home, or tell you that they don’t like how you’re acting. No, a dog is eager to share his love with you every chance they get regardless of your mood. A dog eagerly awaits to greet you lavishing you with tail wags faster than a propeller, kisses wetter than a kitchen sponge and some even try to rest their head on your lap giving the soulful ” I love YOU” look and patiently wait for your loving touch and voice.

5. We have friends, family, outings, work, etc…your dog only has you for their companionship. So if you dog is acting up, like a little kid, could it be that they may be just trying to get your attention for a little while? One friend of mine has a dog that when she is on the phone will take off all the magnets on her refrigerator bringing each one to her separately, any other time all magnets stay intact. Maybe actions do speak louder than words or a big bark or soft long sigh.

6. Walking a dog for potty time isn’t just that…it can enable you both some time to relax, unwind, stop and smell the roses (if there’s any around but watch out for thorns), get some good old fashioned exercise, fresh air and a chance to bond. I really do not like cold winter arctic weather aka temperatures below 40 degrees F but each and every time I go out with my dogs I appreciate the serenity of fresh fallen snow resting not only on the ground but also on the trees painting a whole new landscape waiting for my dogs and I to enjoy and leave our fun filled footprints. Ok, if you’re wearing ski gear, warm boots, gloves, scarf and a hat and no one is looking then you can do a snow angel reliving your childhood for a few moments while your dogs come bouncing along to give you kisses and/or join you in the fun. So while I dread the coldness of winter, my dogs teach me the beauty, peacefulness and fun one can have if you just let your hair down forgetting reality and appreciate each season. If you view it through a dog’s eyes you think more simplistic letting go of the day’s worries and end up laughing how a dog catches snowflakes, bounces like a bunny, and so much more. They’re almost like being with a toddler that only knows how to live in the moment.

7. Talking to you dog is not silly! A dog reads body language and can size you up faster than you can say “Jack Robinson” and knows by the tone of your voice if you’re happy, upset, angry, or want to play. Dogs can’t talk human language but they need to hear human voices. I know many people who talk to themselves saying it helps them stay organized. So why not talk to a dog that will give you head tilts, quizzical looks and let you ramble on as much as you want without a complaint or an objection.

8. Hugging and kissing a dog…dogs and humans need touch. Some trainers will say dogs do not like to be hugged. I beg to differ. Maybe mine like hugs because I used it as a way of praise and love since they were small puppies. Or maybe they like sensing that love that radiates from a sincere loving hugs. I am not going to analyze a hug; instead I’d suggest just giving it a try sometime.

9. A Sense of Humor…without one, life is miserable. No further explanation needed. And I do believe it has been stated laughter is good medicine for the soul.

10. Will your dog ever make you angry, frustrated, cry, and want to scream and/or wonder why you even got a dog in the first place? Is the pope Catholic? Have you ever experienced the same exact feelings with your children, spouse, siblings and/or parents? Think about it, what in life comes easy and without some effort? AND if it did, would you appreciate and love it as much? OR do we learn by our mistakes, by trial and error and by the teachings of our parents, schooling, and life? If you want an easy “perfect life” do not have kids, dogs, or a spouse. Oh, don’t own a home either as all of require work. Instead please win the lotto jackpot, buy an island in the south pacific and hire people to do all the work leaving you to enjoy another day in paradise.

11. If at first you don’t succeed, try try again or get some help! A dog only lives 10 to 15 years on the average. What a short time to learn as many say a dog is mature by 2 to 3 years old. How long did it take you to learn and mature? And if you have kids, are they fully mature at 18 years old?

If you are unable to train your dog according to your liking there are obedience classes for YOU and YOUR dog to learn together. I know I’ve been to them with both my dogs. Why repeat a class you just did with one dog? Because you can still learn more and as everyone is a unique individual so is you dog. Besides, it gets you out of house, makes you think twice, sometimes the dog is doing things right and you aren’t, so your dog is now confused. Lastly, I can guarantee there will much laughter during 8 weeks of obedience training classes. Lastly, it’s cheaper than a gym membership as you will come home exhausted but with a determination to work harder and learn more [with your dog]. You might even figure out teenagers are harder than training a dog. I know of marriages that after 20 years they say their spouse still is an overgrown kid.

12. I am what is called an adult in “middle age” approaching the hill. How do I know this? There are so many charts, polls and little boxes to check with age groups. I have gray hair that I manage to conceal 90% of the time, wrinkles edging their way slowly on my face and lastly, my birth certificate confirms my exact age. I am supposed to be the teacher of life as I’ve gone through much schooling from kindergarten to college, raised children, married with in-laws, divorced, and thus been through 40+ years of experience of life. And no I am not telling you my real age as it isn’t necessary. So with all I have learned to date?

I have learned something else: dogs will teach you more than you can imagine. I thought I earned my stripes and can honestly play the role of a teacher. Silly me, I complicated things by having 2 doodle dogs. I am a student once again having basic principles of what I need to learn in life being reinforced on top of being both a teacher and student of life once again. For those of you not good at multitasking, don’t’ worry with practice you get better.

13. The little things in life really are big. They sure are! Ever home alone, long day at work, kids are off and about, spouse may be working overtime or out with friends or family? It’s just you and your dog(s), all you hear is the tick tock of a clock while sitting down to relax not wanting anyone or anything to bother you. Then something happens you try to ignore, your dog nudges with their nose and maybe you say, “no not now” or you push their nose lightly away. Something inside you makes you look at your dog only to see a pair of eyes soulfully staring you filled only with sincere love. Your heart melts; you smile and lean down to hug your dog now seeing their tail wagging faster than a helicopter blade. That one quiet moment of taking a mere second that has a memory of lasting a lifetime. So small in some people’s eyes but so big in other’s hearts. The tiniest gesture of caring, taking a moment with a dog that is offering you their attention to help you relax from your day, something money never can buy. What some may call “Zen moment”. Total serenity without a real thought just an awesome feeling.

14. Time flies when you’re having fun. While I may go through stages of my dogs stealing a sock, swallowing a dishtowel, shredding my tax bill, barking at the wind blowing, I also go through stages where I learn that my dog is teaching me life goes by quickly so why not try to enjoy it with love, patience, understanding and we both need more training to learn and grow. My dogs also teach me to use this with my own family as well. One day they’re puppies and before you realize it, they’re full grown almost mature dogs listening much better than previously making you almost wish that puppyhood were still existent. Don’t worry they will when you least expect it and then you wish will for them to behave. This is where you are supposed to laugh realizing no one is infallible which makes life much more interesting and valuable.

Enjoy your day, I have to go as my dogs are waiting for me to take them out and possibly learn a bit more about them and myself.

The contents of this blog site are copyright (c) 2008, Annmarie Sparks. All Rights Reserved

Read more: ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE…I’m relearning from my dogs?!?