Live Happy 101: An Introductory Course on Happy Living

Playing with a few ideas here. Dear Sundance will not be removed, nor will we keep our readers from learning some basic dog mannerisms. We've been asked to share in the fun with some of our daily exercise routines. Since our move to Oregon, our fans have wondered what we have been up to. Now they can see what we do and hopefully encourage them to go out and 'Live Happy," no matter what the weather proposes.

November 30, 1912

A letter from James, Sundance's guardian:

Grandpa would read the L.A. Times from beginning to end. He would already have finished a third of the paper by the time we sat down for cream of wheat. Never leaving an article unread, with the robust glasses he wore, he would jab us with ideas he read from the opinion section. I would glance over to Moonie, not knowing this would later turn out to be my first introductory class to political science, only to later on graduate with a B.A. in Sociology and a Master's in Business Administration.

Moonie would often tell me when grandpa was young, he shined shoes and sold the local newspaper in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He had a routine customer who would tell him he would never be able to read, all while grandpa shined his boots and smiled. Funny how someone's negative attitude and backward thinking can affect people for years to come.

The mind is a terrible thing to waste. At least that is what my Moonie always told me. I never really understood what this all meant till one day when grandpa died. He never opened up with me, only if it was early in the morning while drinking a cup of folgers, two pieces of toast with peanut butter spread evenly from side to side and the L.A Times Opinion section.

So on this day, I salute you my Dear Old Grandpa. Happy 99th Birthday!

Grandpa was too strong willed and minded to allow some small grain of fear enter his brain. Instead it fueled him to learn to read.

Leader-slips

Dear Sundance,

My owner is the best master in the world. He cares about my mental and physical health, and provides ample exercise, discipline, and affection. He has tried many different leashes and collars over our five years together, and my favorite is a thick leather slip-lead. It is round and kind of puffy, so it is very comfortable, and the slip function helps me to stay in close contact with my owner's intentions. Many times it has saved me from trying to play with a mean dog, or from running out into the street. As soon as I feel that slight tightening, I look up at my owner to see what he is trying to tell me. And it's always something helpful. My owner and the accessories he has provided for us are the reason I am a contributing member of society, I don't knock over Grandma when she walks me, and I never get into any trouble, unlike so many other dogs who are a menace.

Anyhow, I'm writing because today, while on our Thanksgiving walk this morning with my owner, we saw another owner and dog across the street. The lady said, "My dogs is friendly, may they meet?" and my owner said yes. So we trotted across the street and sniffed each other out and wanted to play. The owners said some friendly words, then the lady noticed my fancy slip-lead, and asked, "is that rubber?" I laughed a dog-laugh because the rubber ones are terrible. They give me whiplash and almost tore my owner's shoulder out of the socket. But as soon as my owner said it was leather, the lady turned and walked away, without another word! I was so sad, I have been having such fun with the other pup! Why would this owner disregard the joy of the dogs like that? She didn't even stick around to hear my owner say, "It's designed after horse tack." She was around the block in a second, and my heart sank. I couldn't play with her spotted dog anymore. My tail dropped and I've had sad-eyes all morning. I could only eat half my kibble. I just want to play.

Even though my owner looks like a big tough guy, I'm a medium-small dog, so people generally drop their judgments when they see how nice I am. But some people, I just don't understand. How can I let such a bummer not ruin my Thanksgiving? How do I help my owner not feel bad for doing what's best for me?

I even have a playmate who wears a prong-collar. It looks very uncomfortable to me, but I've never tried one, so I don't say anything. I just know that my friend is happy and healthy and his owners love him, so I figure it must be okay. Why do some people judge by appearances? Thanks for listening,

--Judged by Accessories

Dear J.B.A.,

"Never judge the day by the weather." Kimo's Rule.

I understand your concern. Most humans judge, and it is fear-based and

stems from a lack of information. I have yet to meet a dog who is judgmental. It's just not in our DNA.

The owner of this dog would have had her tail tucked between her legs if she had one, which is why she dashed away before your owner could have any sort of dialogue with her, a first sign flight or fight.

A clue to the owners hang-ups may be displayed in the dog. Dogs who show signs of fear typically had very little socialization at a young age and may have been conditioned this way with negative reinforcements during their lives. It also appears from your letter as though the dog's interaction with you shared little affect; the dog did not show complete submission by way of tail sniffing, which can mean he is learning dominance from someone/thing else. Perhaps the owner plays a very submissive role in her own relationships, and the dog reads this energy and learns to interpret her body language as weak and submissive. There can be plenty of factors in play here, this is only one component.

I say to keep wagging that tail and enjoy life. We are here for a very little time, so don't let negative energy drag you and your master down. By trying to make your owner happy, you'll find that you become happier.

LIVE HAPPY!

Sundance

Just read my blog!

Dear Sundance,

I see humans guard resources, like bodies of water and land, stocks and bonds, material goods, and people. My issue stems from the covetous way humans allow themselves to establish dominant territorial orderliness, and still become ignorant of the ways their own pets take control of them. My fellow dogs emulate their humans, just from a more basic and instinctual means. Some of my playmates claim resources and view everything in their paths as property to guard and control.

This behavior needs to stop, for the sake of my own kind. Every day there are countless dogs who are euthanized, because human owners do not take the time to learn and understand dog psychology. The simple fact that we cannot converse with humans should be the first sign that we are different. Reading the body language of a dog takes a commitment, and leads to earning trust and respect.

Sincerely,

Please Share Some Perspective

Dear P.S.S.P.,

So true!

My instinctual approach to this issue: Find a resource! There are so many dog trainers and k-9 behavioralist who can help humans understand our kind better. We are a simple breed and willing to learn and adhere to a set of directions. Our first duty to our owners is loyalty. Not resource guarding. Humans are rational, for the most part, and tend to let their guard down on occasion, especially when cute is involved.

They think it is cute when a puppy rottweiler, jumps on them, yet they deem it inexcusable when an adult rottweiler does the same action. Yet humans allow their eight-week-old to walk all over them, in effect creating little monsters who become adult dogs who are feared and put down. Puppies learn not to do this very quickly from their mother when their behavior has gotten out of line; it is not tolerated. Nipping behaviors like this in the butt with a consistentdog psychology approach must be executed.

I strongly recommend new dog owners skim through the yellow pages, ask their veterinarian, search on the internet, ask other dog owners, read books, get videos on how to share leadership, with trust and respect. Just read my blog! There are plenty of resources and there is no need to guard them with white fangs and growls.

Live Happy!

Sundance

Sundance Balls of Joy

Busy people need quick snacks. Unfortunately, the most commonly available snacks contain high levels of sugar. Refined carbohydrates are the worst thing to eat on an empty stomach since eating sweets without proteins and fats causes blood sugar to skyrocket, which sets the body and brain in a downward spiral, making the busy person’s day go down the tubes. The healthy snacks, however, tend to be quite expensive, and home-made snacks tend to require refrigeration. So what is a busy person to do? There are always Sundance Balls. These are delicious snacks that can be made on the weekend and eaten over the next two or three weeks. They are easy to make, requiring simple ingredients and a food processor. Just grind some nuts, blend in some dates, and add whatever little extras for variation, then enjoy a home-made substitute that tastes much better than all those health-bars in the convenience stores.

First, the chef must assemble his ingredients. Three cups of nuts should last the average student a week. Any nuts will do, but almonds are the best base for their texture and mild flavor. A third can be pecans, which add a dessert-y aroma and cookie-dough texture. Any other nuts at hand may be included, too. Measure out about one pinch of salt for every cup of nuts. Six or seven dates will be needed for every cup of nuts, depending on the size of the dates. One must be careful to pit the dates and look for tiny worms that sometimes reside harmlessly within. This can be done with a paring knife, slicing the date from tip to tip, opening with fingers, and inspecting for bug-evidence near the pit. Other ingredients that could be used are chocolate, cinnamon, and raisins.

To add variety, any dried fruits, nuts, or spices can be added for unlimited options. Oatmeal-cookie-dough balls may be made with pecans, cinnamon, and raisins. The chocolate-chip variety will contain chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or cacao beans blended with some walnuts, along with vanilla beans or extract. Dried apricots can add a sour splash to plain balls, and dried plums can add sweetness and fiber. Peanuts can make a peanut-butter-cookie-dough version.

After assembling the ingredients, they need to be blended. The chef must be careful not to overload the food processor: process only as many as it can handle at once. It is a good idea to add the salt and any other dry ingredients at this time to achieve full incorporation. The nuts should be blended until they are the consistency of crumbs. If they are ground to powder, the result will be more like cookie dough than energy bars, which can be delightful.

The chef can then drop the pitted dates in through the shoot, adding one every two or three seconds. Double check to be sure there are no pits, as that can lead to broken teeth once the pits are blended in. Once the dates are incorporated, the mixture will begin to bind together in a dough. This would be a good time to add raisins, if they are desired.

The final step is shaping the Sundance balls. The chef should prepare a clean, shallow container in which to refrigerate the final product so he doesn’t have to go searching with dirty hands. He may want to first apply a light spray of cooking oil to his hands to minimize sticking. The food processor’s blade needs to be removed so the Sundance Balls don’t end up blood-flavored. Then the chef will pick up a clump of the dough, about the size of a cookie, and roll it into a ball. If the chef’s hands become tired, he may get lazy and roll small log- or turd-shaped lumps for simplicity and effect. Once all the product is rolled, the remaining dough may be licked from the hands. If the chef has an abundance of time and wants to be fancy, he may roll the balls in or sprinkle them with cocoa powder, cinnamon, or coconut, depending on the ingredients. Then the balls or turds may be covered and placed in the refrigerator to firm up a bit.

Once the balls are chilled, they may be enjoyed at any time, in any place. Six balls can be placed in a waxed-paper bag and tossed into a backpack to be enjoyed throughout the day. The oatmeal-cookie-dough balls can go with tea, or be served as desert in a snap. The chocolate-chip variety is wonderful for study sessions, or simply to quell the munchies. And the best things about Sundance Balls, besides the delicious taste and texture, is they are a balanced source of energy, they have fiber and nutrients, and they don’t cost $3.97 for a two-ounce bar. Or, perhaps the best part may be the opportunities for humor among friends as you pop a small, brown, oblong thing into your mouth and everyone asks, “What’s that?” and you answer, “I made it myself, on Saturday. Want to try one?”

Toy Machine

Dear Sundance,

I love my owners, but they are inundating me with toys, making me feel like I'm in charge of/responsible for to many things. I'll admit, it is fun to receive new things, but the real enjoyment comes from actually sharing in the fun of being with them. I have a basket full of half chewed ropes, kongs, gnawed bones, and rawhides. I have squeaky toys and tennis balls scattered all over the back yard. The latest toy is a red laser light, which makes me feel frantic and obsessed.
I happen to have a fellow K-9 friend next door with the same dilemma, with owners who substitute out exercise time with a large backyard, an abundance of water bowls scattered around the enclosure, in case he becomes thirsty, and an agility course for entertainment and sufficient means to some acceptable exercise. I have yet to see him actually perform any agility in the span he is left alone, but he sure barks like a blues singer the whole time I am passing by. We think his owners are using the accessories to compensate for not giving him time.

In truth, all I want is some one-on-one time with my owner, to reunite with the good old collar and leash, and to share in the fun. A well used collar and leash is worth far more to me than a new toy every week.

Signed,

Toy Poodle

Dear T.P.,

I know our owners genuinely love us, but it sounds like your owners are substituting toys for a good old fashioned walk. The walk is the adventure, the time to share and re-unite, to be a cohesive team, dog and human. The walk is an opportunity to smell the roses, as well as whiff a recently nuked lawn or saturated shrub. It's also a great way for your owner to be proud of you, and make out how well those obedience classes have truly paid off. Maybe they can read this blog and return to the simpler joys of spending quality time with you instead of just letting you chew on imported goods.

Live Happy!

Sundance

Companionship Training

Dear Sundance,

How do I tell my owners I would like to have a partner? another dog to have some fun with? to help train to be like me? a legacy? I am entering my 8th year of life on mother earth, and I would love to share the knowledge I have been blessed with from my wonderful human parents and antecedents with a young pup. Before I was adopted, my owners had just gotten married and previously had dogs of their own. The stories I've heard on camp trips and in the backyard suggest that only wonderful and good things resulting from owning two dogs. Not only that, I love my owners, and I know that dogs don't tend to outlive their people, and I can't bear the thought of leaving them without a canine companion to help them through the hard times, a doggy with a little bit of myself in him or her. If they were to wait until they had no dogs, they would be grieving, and no new puppy wants to enter a grieving household. I eavesdropped on a conversation Dan and Patrick were having the other day about the possibilities of bringing in a new companion, and so this is what prompted me to think and begin writing to you.

Pawed,

Doggy Co-op

Dear D.C.,

Currently, I have been honored to work with a seven-month-old golden retriever. She is a quick learner, even though she can be a silly young pup sometimes. I know the role I play in her life is helpful, but I also know she is getting the correct amount of obedience training from her owners. My owner allows me to tag along on most of our training sessions with young dogs. He is a firm believer in the power of the pack, and its ability to calm and help other pack members adapt to the constant environmental changes. He also knows dogs exude a certain amount of energy. Sometimes dogs who have anxieties can be a bit restless, whereas dogs that give off calm energy will be less likely to resist and willing to experience new things.

When the time comes to choose a companion, it would be in your owners' best interest to allow you to come along. Keep in mind, if you are to see a new puppy, make sure your owners have made sure you are up to date with all your vaccines, and always check with the breeder first. If you plan on going to a rescue shelter, find out if your owners can bring you too.

I do want you to know, I think what you have planned is a remarkable idea. Every dog, and even humans, need a mentor. Picking out the right companion for you will be one challenge and energy levels will be another. Finding the right match is important. Your apprentice and you will appreciate it even more once you both smell each others' rears.

Running for life

Dear Sundance,

My owner runs 6 out of 7 days. I generally tag along and share in the fun. We run 3 or 4 miles in the a.m., before he has to go to work. Right now you may be wondering, "So what's your concern?"
To be honest, I think I have the ideal owner, but my buddies keep suggesting that I am doing too much exercise and I need to conserve my energy. Most of my friends are fairly supple, and the rest of my buddies tend to release their energies elsewhere, like in the form of barking, chewing, digging, playing chase games with their owners, and pulling on their leashes. This could be fun, but I'm always too tired for shenanigans; I do not share in their frustration and ploys for attention. I'm not frustrated, and I get plenty of attention.
So, my question is, at what point am I getting too much exercise and run the risk of injury? Will there be a time when I will need to tell my owner, let's just hibernate today and ice our muscles.
Born to run,
Pure Rhodesian In Caring Environment


Dear P.R.I.C.E.,
Sounds like you got it made. Your owner has committed to your overall wellness and truly picked a prize-winner in you. Rhodesians were bred to run miles, and help chase down lions. Their paws are able to adapt to the heavy pounding, day in, day out. Frankly, I am bit jealous of your endurance. I can't go more than five a day.
Exercise is a key element to our survival. Your buddies are simply jealous and need to get over it. Yes, there should be moderation with everything you do, but it sounds like you are achieving this with just the right amount. Your owner, from the sound of it, seems to be in tip-top shape. I sometimes see my owner stretch in a downward dog position, and this gets me excited because I want to play, so I stretch too. You know what to do. Your owner is probably watching you closely, and as soon as he notices you to act tired (which probably will not happen for a long time) then he will cut you some slack.

Maybe we can run together sometime.

Live Happy!

Sundance

p.s. Here is a reference:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/rehab/a/rice.htm

Where's the love man?

Dear Sundance!

My owner will take me for a walk after she finishes class. I hear her tell me this on our way to school, where I sit and wait a few hours before she returns. She leaves me in our truck for what seems to be eternity only to return to me with excitement. I am so excited to see her, but she always corrects me with a strong and firm verbal correction and an aggressive slap on my rear. I am unclear why she get my blood flowing, only to squash it with a unyielding correction. This is sending me the wrong information, the wrong message, yet I continue to remain emotionally aroused. I only want to make her happy. For instance, today when she came back to the truck, she was talking to me with a high pitch voice that excited me so much that I became very anxious. This only led to her slapping my rear with such force, followed by yet another verbal correction that I could not understand, because I don't know what frustration means. I do not know why she feels the need to send me the wrong cue every time.

Please help!
Pitbull with wrong social cues

Dear P.W.S.C.,

I am so bummed to hear about your situation. I think it sends a wrong message to you and the rest of us when an owner behaves like that and mishandles leadership. I see it happen plenty in front of my own eyes, only to read about it later in the news or read it from a fan like you.
I recommend next time your owner sends you the wrong cue, follow it with a puppy stare or even better, record this misdeed and post it on YouTube for the world to see and bear witness to such idiocy. Owners who use strong coercive tactics to get their dogs to behave are very imbalanced individuals. Especially when the owner triggered the unwanted behavior. It is sad to see humans behave like this, when they are expected to behave with calmly and assertive conduct to give us the cues on how we should behave.

See if you can find the number for a good person-trainer and leave it in a conspicuous place in the house, and maybe they'll get the hint.

Live Happy!

Sundance