Because Dog Loves You.

There's a reason that Dog is the backwards of God: it has everything to do with unconditional love. All the other animals have conditions. Especially cats. But dogs are faithful to a fault. They love the bad masters, the selfish owners, the lazy owners, the immature owners, the ignorant owners. They don't just love them, they adore them. Even when it hurts. 

Dogs are happy with their owners all the time, every day, every moment. If the owner is feeling self-pity, dog still loves. If the owner is mourning, dog still loves. If the owner made a huge mistake, dog is still there wagging and laughing at life. If owner failed miserably, dog says, "let's play!" 

Yet dogs are still sensitive. They respond to tears with love, no matter who is crying or why. 

Dogs know love. Love, that thing that sees imperfections and loves the imperfections. Your dog will tell you when your being an idiot, one way or another, but Dog won't judge you harshly or love you less. Dog never gets angry. All those annoying selfish habits you have that other people just can't stand, Dog sees through them to the real you. That's love.

Dog never says, "Let's take a break." Dog never says, "You're too much. Go away." Even when you are too much, even when you're doing everything wrong. Yes, if you're imbalanced, Dog will be imbalanced, but Dog never loves you less or ceases to love the good parts of you because of the bad parts.

And the silly things you do? The things that don't make sense to other people? The ticks you have, the disorders, the tendencies, the "issues," Dog doesn't let them get in the way of life: Fun, Food, and Sleep. 

See, that's the thing. Dog knows what life is, even when you don't. Life is fun, food, and sleep. It's not parties or drinks or FB friends, it's moving your body the way it was meant to move. It's not the cost of your car, it's where it takes you. It's not your a job or not having a job, it's about living every moment and having fun with whatever the moment brings us. 

And then sleep. There's always sleep. Dog knows that those hours of re-charge are a huge part of life. Humans treat sleep like the enemy, seeing how much they can avoid it, purging and bingeing on sleep. But dogs know that tiredness is a sign: sleep. And that sleep is an ally. All the good things come after sleep: exercise and fun and food. Dogs know that waking up is the other best part of the day! Then the fun begins!

Silliness: People forget that it's okay. They're embarrassed. Partly because everyone has a different definition of silly. But Dog knows that "silly" is whatever you do that doesn't make logical sense. And they embrace it completely. 

Then there's service. Dog is self-sacrificing, but in a way that doesn't feel life sacrifice at all. They don't play the martyr role. When Dog has to do something for you, Dog does it whole heartedly. Dog sees how fun your idea was! Dog is happy and eager to do whatever pointless drudgery you have set out upon. And Dog WANTS to. Because Dog Loves You. 

And that's the beauty of it. That's why humans have to live ten times longer than dogs: it takes us that much longer to learn how to love. We love you, Dogs, thanks for teaching us how to love unconditionally. 

Bed time story

the day is numbered by the clouds in the sky

i do not wonder when it will subside

all i know is i am here to lie

as any dog would; by my masters side.

does the day ever show any signs of anxiety?

I ask: where do the clouds go when all the rain falls

are they running to the next trail?

will the raindrops fall on that oversized white ferry?

or, will I ever play fetch with the eagles?

Overhead i hear noise

the clumps are at it again

the constant barrage of footsteps

the pink robe emphysema cough

the chatterbox lingo outside our kitchen window

the lingering smoke

isn't smoke suppose to rise?

I look up and what do i see,

my master and rain drops falling on my head

dry my paws

rub my belly

I ask

on a blanket of lions I rub and rub

and then I know all is safe.

time to sleep grandma

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

Attraction Advice

Dear Sundance,

I have heard that you have a way with the ladies. How is it that a dog like yourself can maintain such charisma and be so calm about it all the time?

Sincerely,

Desperately Seeking Rottweiler Attention.

Dear DSRA,

I am very flattered that you would consider me to be a ladies' man. I am far from such, but if you must know, I do my best to maintain body, mind, and spirit with a daily routine of exercise, careful nutrition, and grooming. I never question who I am when I am given an ample amount of cardiovascular exercises. On days like today when the heat is above 90 degrees and air quality is bad (normal Los Angeles breathing conditions), my pack and I do our best to head out early in the morning. Even though this city rarely sleeps, dogs are easy going and less hostile at 6 a.m. We are able to be dogs and communicate without owners harboring a day's worth of fear or anxiety.

This approach to exercise helps out greatly when it comes to sniffing the opposite sex. My demeanor is less anxious, instead I am calm and submissive. I suggest you and your master begin a daily exercise routine, at least 40 minutes of structure and focused heart beating exercise every morning. The ladies will notice your trim physique and you can begin conversations with, "Do you run here often?" or "Are you a smoker? 'Cause you are smoking hot!"

Live Happy!

Sundance

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!