Happy Mother's Day

Topic: Moon & Art & Love

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss how dogs and humans share the moon, love, and art. Sundance will ask a series of relevant questions, and James and Alexia will provide answers.

Sundance: So James, this week has been pretty luminous. I was surprised on Saturday to see the moon so bright. It made me feel so happy to see the power of the moon and the mystery pull it has on our emotion. Is there such a thing as lunar energy? 

James: Well, mushroomers tend to think so. But I have no idea. I've been told the power of the moon can create a heavy feeling  and kind of make things bounce off each other. Like two magnets trying to bond with an opposite polarity.  

Sundance: So if I try to put my nose on it, it will not stay?

James: Just like that. It has its own mind and wants to attract you to it, but it does not want you to have the power over it. It will change appearances to keep you wondering what her next move will be. The moon bounces around, and depending on how it feels, it will play a waiting game. 

Sundance: I tried to lick the moon to show her that I let her have my complete devotion and adoration. But even still, she would not let me. I don't think it's made of cheese.

James: Yes Sundance, I do not blame you for trying. You see, the moon is crafty like that. When the moon wants you follow her she will find you and bring you closer to the feminine. The feminine is what makes us fall in love. The moon is beautiful like that. 

Sundance: Is Opie part of this feminine mystery too? Because I think she really likes me. Just like the other day when we were playing in the ocean water. She could not keep her paws off me.

James: Opie is 100% feminine. She's been attracted to you since the first meeting. She plays and throws herself at you; she is smitten. This is called love. Frank Sinatra created songs for the two of you. 

Sundance: I don't have time for ladies right now. I'm focused on my athletic performance, you know, running and training, around town and on the beach. But I do have time for the women in my family, Mama, Moonie and Grandma. They help make me a better dog.  

James: And they love you too. They help all of us balance out, especially us guys, they remind us of the little delicate joys in life like seashells and smiles. 

Sundance: And we remind them to lighten up when they start to worry about the little things. It's fun to tease them and listen to them squeal! 

James: That's true. But in the end, we're all grateful for each other, and we're a big happy family. 

Sundance: Goodnight, Moon!

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.

LOVE

The day is almost over. Just one last lick of James' neck and I think I will have all his powers. I really do not want to take his powers, I just want to see what it is that makes him get up each morning and support Mama, Skuzum and me. I could tell he was a little tired today. We ran our usual course through Griffith Park with Stella, but he was still asleep. Perhaps it was last night's SWAT and helicopter escapades. Or was it the man he told me about during our run who was carried out of the apartment, after the police raided his building. Supposedly, reports were written that one of our neighbors had taken too many pills and was barricading himself in his house with a gun. By the time police had reached their suspect he had overdosed on pills and was unconscious for who knows how many hours. HE HAD NO GUN!

I do not understand the human spirit in this overpopulated town. It is never at rest, and when it is, it is sitting on some white porcelain thing. Each day we pass by Silver Lake dog park. Many of my friends are running around having a great time because they have been locked up in the small apartments all day. I truly do not understand why their owners choose to take the easy way out and instead walk them. This would truly create a stronger bond than letting them run loose and get into mischief with other dogs who have similar mental problems. I am so glad James takes me out everyday, sometimes twice a day, with my buddies Kobe, Ink and Na_Me. I really support this idea and find it works on all levels. I get exercise which is at the top of my list of things I need to do each day. I am always surrounded by friends, taking care of the socialization aspect of my training, we are always exposed to different experiences, and most of all, I am completely balanced because I don't have to be the pack leader. I get to be a dog.

So you see, I know I am very loved and I remain focused. Rarely will you see me depressed or down and out. Just when have you ever heard of a dog committing suicide and having a team of K-9's raid a doghouse?

I LOVE YOU Mama and James!