Today I came home from work simply spent. Although I had taken last Friday off from work I initiated a large painting project that took almost two days. Oh the joys of a fixer upper let me tell you. And why does it seem that once I have finished one project it just makes everything else that needs to be done that much more glaringly apparent? In addition to that stuff I have my A Rotta Love stuff. Sometimes that alone feels like another job on top of my full time job. Then there is my grandmother, whom I adore, whose cleaning I do. Not to mention the normal things in life like grocery shopping, cleaning, lawn mowing and laundry. Now I am not rambling these things off to prove anything or in an effort to appear the martyr for the cause. That isn’t it at all.

Rather, where do my own beasts fit in to all of this? Recently, I had to give myself a reality check. I mean really, what business do I have championing for all these other dogs in the world if I am not making damn certain my own are getting the quality of life I have not only set a precedent for but that they deserve? Sometimes it is so easy to expect my own dogs to endure sacrifices they don’t have the ability to understand. I come home late from work or leave right after coming home from work and walks don’t happen. I get tired, often exhausted. So I rationalize – my beasts have good lives and I am working to give the same to others who don’t have it so good.

But is that fair?

I have had a come to Jesus with myself. No it isn’t fair.

As busy as I allow (allow being the operative word here) myself to get I owe it to my beasties to ensure they are stimulated on daily basis. Even if that only means a 15-30 minute training session. Have you tried working on “stay” with four dogs at one time? Phew.

On an aside: I have found working with all four together is really interesting. First though I have to go into it putting aside any frustrations that I may have. I just let it all go and enjoy them each for who they are. Because working with four dogs at one time is frustrating. They all do their own thing. Take Debbie for example. Debbie is so food motivated she will kill herself attempting sheer perfection. If you do not notice her nice sit and her solid stay she will stand up and reposition herself. While the other dogs may get excited and break their stay – nope – not my Debbie. Her eye is always on the prize. In this case the tasty salmon flavored training morsel.

Chi finds these exercises maddening. The little bugger’s eyes bulge. He starts panting profusely. He barks and yips, jumps and twirls. It is like he wants to understand what is going on and what I want from him but it is very hard when there are other dogs getting treats that he wants! Concentration & tranquility? Whatever. These are the reasons he is not in the picture above.

Ike is my old gentleman in every respect. He wants to be “present” and included. Learn new stuff? Not so much. He patiently sits there, a part of my crew. A part of my soul.

Then there is Mo-Bits. Mo hangs back and watches in her quiet, subdued yet attentive way. The others help me teach her.

But, as usual, I digress.

Making time.

My dogs, like most, adore – I mean ADORE their walks. And why shouldn’t they? They are stuck in the house all day. Not only is a walk good for them it is good for me too and not just physically. When I open the back gate and we set out on our stroll the joy is palpable. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have that much joy every time you are venturing out into the world? So I have made a point to at minimum make sure they are walked 5 nights a week.

When I get home in the evening from work I have started to hang out in the yard with the dogs for 15 minutes or so. They seem to really enjoy that.

Making a point to just interact more, acknowledging them individually and hanging out for one on one cuddles and glib conversation (yes I converse with my dogs – don’t act like you don’t).

I guess what I am babbling about here is that we are all busy. We humans love to complicate our lives in various ways. We choose to share our lives with beasts but sometimes they can get pushed to the edges of our lives rather than staying in the heart of it. Even us crazy dog people can suddenly realize we are not having as much FUN with our dogs as we can and should. Fun is my point. Laughter is good for the soul just like dogs are. Laughter is good for our dogs too. And maybe, just maybe, we humans our good for their souls too.

Filed under: Observations & Reflection