We dogs are poetry. Simple as that.
___________________________
Dharma
The way the dog trots out the front door
every morning
without a hat or an umbrella,
without any money
or the keys to her doghouse
never fails to fill the saucer of my heart
with milky admiration.
Who provides a finer example
of a life without encumbrance—
Thoreau in his curtainless hut
with a single plate, a single spoon?
Gandhi with his staff and his holy diapers?
Off she goes into the material world
with nothing but her brown coat
and her modest blue collar,
following only her wet nose,
the twin portals of her steady breathing,
followed only by the plume of her tail.
If only she did not shove the cat aside
every morning
and eat all his food
what a model of self-containment she
would be,
what a paragon of earthly detachment.
If only she were not so eager
for a rub behind the ears,
so acrobatic in her welcomes,
if only I were not her god.
~Billy Collins, a US Poet Laureate
Not How I Roll
These words will perk up my ears anytime! I love riding in the car, even if it’s just to go on errands. I ride in the back of a small SUV or the back of a station wagon, both have a guard up to prevent me from jumping up front. I do get jealous of other dogs when I see their heads out the window, tongues flying, eyes watering. But I guess it’s not good for our eyes to be hanging out a window with all the forced air hitting our faces. Bummer.
I guess I love riding in the car so much because a ride has always got the potential of taking me for a swim or to play or a hike. And yeah, I know it can also take me to the vet, but that only happens once in awhile. I would rather be riding in the car with my peeps than hanging out at home alone. Dogs don’t like to be alone. DOGS DON’T LIKE TO BE ALONE. Emphatic enough?
I’ve always been a quiet rider – rarely have I barked in the car. But I have a friend who barks like he went mad and is shouting about where his marbles have gone. My advice for his humans: get someone else to drive your car while you train your dog to shut the bark up (written with love.) Just with any other training, it takes time, patience and treats, but your dog will GET it. If your dog is barking because of anxiety, you gotta start driving to only fun doggie places with him or her in the car. Your dog will associate pretty quickly: CAR=GOOD.
One note to all the pet owners with little dogs who ride on laps and look like they’re driving… While cute in a controlled environment, you are driving a two-ton piece of machinery. Do us all a favor and limit your dog to the passenger seat. Besides, it makes the rest of us dogs envious. We all secretly want to drive. Where do you think I’d drive first if I could? “Take me to the River, Drop me in the Water…”
Here endeth the doggie lesson – woof!
You don’t call yourself my mom and I’m not your daughter, but you call me your girl. With each walk we take, each ball you throw for me, each gentle touch and pat, you’re my girl too.
Remember me? This little puppy you took into your house and made me a home. You cared for me like a child, doggy-style. And yes, I peed on the carpet. You thought I’d never get potty-trained, but we did it. And you don’t call yourself my mom.
You taught me how to behave properly and be polite and I know that took some doing. Remember our off-leash walks in the wooded dog park, where I would eat anything and everything? Even poop? You made it clear that was not acceptable. But we would return there, sometimes twice a day, because we both loved it and you knew I could learn. And you don’t call yourself my mom.
You took me to puppy class and socialized my fuzzy self with the other clueless pups. The best part was after the business end of the lessons, we’d have free play. You’d laugh the loudest at all the playful fur flying and say my name with a grin. You were proud – I could feel it. And you don’t call yourself my mom.
Now, puppyhood is over and I’m older than you are (if you use the doggie math.) We still walk in the wooded dog park (no more poop picnics), still socialize with other dogs and you still laugh the loudest at my antics and say my name with a grin. All I can woof is “Thanks Mom!”
Dedicated to all the pet “moms” out there.
“Motherhood cherishes all kinds!” Quote from PawPrintsPet
