Learning From Dogs

When Honey wants a snack, she drools on my leg. When she needs to go outside, she stares directly into my eyes. When she’s tired and wants to go to bed, she barks. Despite being a dog who doesn’t speak a word of English, Honey tells me exactly what she wants and needs, without hesitating or apologizing. …

Seems like a dumb question, doesn’t it? Of course dogs are happier. Just look at those wagging tails and floppy grins. And what do they have to be unhappy about—especially in a loving, forever home? They don’t have to work for a living. They get all their meals prepared for them. So what if we …

If your dog runs away from home, cries when you leave the house, or barks like a mad creature every time a stranger comes to the door, you look for a management tool or training method. Right? I’m not going to argue you out of that. After all, roaming the streets is dangerous. No dog …

You may find it hard to believe, but not everyone likes Honey. There’s Abbey, the pretty mixed breed whose person always asks after Honey from across the street. There’s Layla, the foster dog, who made it clear she’d only play with Honey on her own terms. And now there’s Marigold, a neighbor’s dog who came …

Houses fascinate me. Most people, whether they rent or own, express something about themselves by where they live. The psychologist Carl Jung built and designed a small castle to express his psychological development. And I look at my own house to see what it shows about how I’m feeling or how I live every day. …

Introverts are hot! And no, I’m not talking about the way my introspective husband looks when he gets out of the shower (although he is awfully cute). I mean that introverts are tired of feeling undervalued in a culture (I’m talking of the U.S., in particular) that rewards brash and talkative people. Introverts are fed up …

When Honey sees someone she wants to greet, she starts off by slowly swishing her tail. If she gets the least little encouragement, she starts dancing in place. Front paw up, both rear paws hop. When her new “friend” comes over to say hello, Honey explodes with joy. She spins around. She leans into the …

Humans are cursed. We have these amazing, complex brains. And we can’t rely on them to tell us the truth. Dogs, on the other paw, while very intelligent, rely more on their senses than we do. And they are rarely led astray. Maybe the most important thing we can learn from dogs is how not …

An Irish saint’s feast as an excuse to drink beer? Bah, humbug. Twenty-fifth wedding anniversary? Why is an anniversary more special for having a five at the end? Big birthday parties? What’s the big deal? Billions of people have managed to get born. If you haven’t guessed, I’m a bit of a sour puss when …

It was the same every time. We’d slow down to make the turn into my parents’ neighborhood and our dogs, who had slept peacefully for the past two hours, popped their heads up. Agatha and Christie knew fun was ahead. After months of leashed walks and play time in a yard smaller than most American’s …