Comments on: Listen To Your Dog

By: Shadow's & Ducky's Mom

Shadow's & Ducky's Mom — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 15:36:47 +0000

I regret to admit that I don’t always listen to Ducky, mostly those times when she’s wound-up and unable to chill. That bark of hers gives me headaches. But most times I do, or at least try. Sam’s dementia “episodes” don’t make it easy. Thank goodness, Shadow is very easy to understand. She knows I do my best to listen to her over the Daddy-Ducky noise.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:45:38 +0000

Such important ideas! I end up carrying Rye on many occasions because she gets scared easily and feels more confident when she’s being carried–my neighbors think I’m crazy carrying a 30-pound dog down the street, but Rye’s happier and that’s the important thing! Thanks for joining the hop!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 01:48:43 +0000

In reply to Monika, Sam & Elsa. That's such a sweet sentiment. Wouldn't it make a nice card with one of your watercolors on the outside?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 01:46:12 +0000

In reply to 24 Paws of Love. How sweet. I can just see you kissing Zappa on the forehead.

By: Monika, Sam & Elsa

Monika, Sam & Elsa — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 18:20:12 +0000

The language of dogs is spoken ever so softly and is quite subtle. But when you listen, oh my, the rewards are ‘pawsome.’

By: 24 Paws of Love

24 Paws of Love — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:40:22 +0000

At bedtime I give all the dogs kisses and say good night. Some don’t mind the kisses and other times they do. I am always having to read their body language on how close I can get to them and whether they want a kiss or not. I’ve been especially negligent of reading Zappa’s cues, like not at all. One day it just struck me when he turned his head away from me. He didn’t want to cuddle. Since then I try to pay attention to what he wants and what he doesn’t. We have worked out a system that if he doesn’t want to cuddle or share kisses, then he will put his head down and let me kiss his forehead. I love compromising!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:03:42 +0000

In reply to Leah Erb.

I think we’ve all used our leashes as steering wheels sometimes.

But you make such a wonderful point about what our pups have to show us if we just pay attention.

So glad to hear from you and hope you’re doing well.

By: Leah Erb

Leah Erb — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 02:58:46 +0000

I regret to admit, I once drove the leash like a steering wheel. So needlessly stressful! Dogs would stop “for no reason” and I’d yank them along. We missed out on so much! Now when I stop to ‘listen’, they immediately relax and usually continue walking, no yanking required. Other times they insist on showing me the raccoon peeking up from under the board walk, an eagle perched low in the trees, a loose dog heading our way, … And when I have no idea what they’re alerting me to, I tell them I believe them and that seems to satisfy us all.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:58:58 +0000

In reply to Bren Pace.

As a pittie lover, you might not be surprised to hear that we find pit bull “owners” to be the best listeners. While lab and golden retriever people are notoriously awful.

I know it’s a big generalization. But I think people whose dogs have faced discrimination for their looks are particularly careful about the impression they leave.

Lots of retriever “owners” coast on their dogs’ reputation without working with them to be good dogs.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:39:18 +0000

In reply to jan. OMD, I don't even know if I have a book in me. Given how wordy I am, it would end up longer than War and Peace. :)