If I got rid of all my history books, did that mean I wasn’t smart anymore? That the time I spent working for two Philadelphia archives was wasted? That I should never have considered grad school? Paring down my book collection for a move just got complicated. Who knew that my “stuff” held so much …
Learning From Dogs
Don’t Feel Bad About Feeling Bad – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Feeling bad stinks. Being injured or sick, whether physically or emotionally, is no fun at all. There’s only one thing that’s worse. And that’s when you feel bad about feeling bad. Talking To Yourself When You’re Feeling Bad How do you talk to yourself when you’re feeling bad? I hope you have nurturing voices inside …
Show Your Delight – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Do you miss words that people rarely use anymore? I do. And “delight” is the word at the top of my list. When was the last time you heard anyone describe something as delightful? Cynics Don’t Show Delight Cynical people don’t find anything delightful. But dogs are not cynics. They delight in many things: a …
Do I Think About Dogs Too Much?
Time to get caught up on the news. After reading about the delay in implementing the Affordable Care Act and the death of Shirley Temple, I glance at the next story. It’s an ad for the ASPCA. I read a few more stories. And see a pet supply company advertising in the sidebar. I know …
We Can’t Fix Everything and We Shouldn’t Try – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Do you want to piss me off? Send me a woman’s magazine. There’s nothing I hate more than being told I’m a failure because of my poorly groomed brows, disorganized pantry, and lack of a thigh gap. Want to piss me off even more? Take that culture of self-improvement used to sell worthless products and make …
Even Superstars Have Bad Days – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Honey was abducted by aliens. That was the only explanation I could think of for her lack of focus on the day we took her Canine Good Citizen test. It was either that or her brain had fallen out and was hiding behind a dog hair tumbleweed in the bedroom. We still managed to eke out …
Sometimes Dogs are Jerks – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Some dogs understand when you’re not feeling well. They lie down by your side and relax. Honey is not one of those dogs. If she doesn’t get her morning walk, she gets pissy. She won’t settle down. She barks for seemingly no reason. In other words, sometimes dogs are jerks. Honey is no better or worse …
Ask for Nurturing – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Honey Asks for Nurturing Honey has been a little clingy lately. It happens sometimes after we send a foster dog home. When I sit on the couch, Honey rests her head on my knee. When I get down on the floor to sort laundry, she comes in close for a hug. And when I go …
Keep Calm – Good for the Dog; Good for You
I can learn a lot from my golden retriever Honey about dealing with nuisances. Honey lies down to chew her bone. Ginny, our foster beagle, grabs the bone out of Honey’s mouth. Once Ginny tires of the bone, she walks on Honey’s face. No reaction. So Ginny grabs the end of Honey’s tail and pulls. …
What It’s Like Having a Reactive Dog
I remember the 5 a.m. walks. Scanning the distant horizon for other dogs. And the panic I felt when an off-leash dog ran up to us while his person yelled, “Don’t worry. He’s friendly.” I experienced those things with three different dogs. My current companion, Honey, is not a reactive dog. Or at least her …