Curiosity

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am one curious dog. In fact my curiosity knows no limits. I'm interested in almost everything.

To the untrained eye I may look like I'm just another dog out for a walk with her parents, but in reality I'm like a secret agent checking for anything that is out of place or unusual in the neighbourhood. If I see something untoward I'll bark to notify my parents immediately. I know they appreciate this. Maybe my willingness to protect them makes me more of a superhero than a secret agent?

Anyway, I want to know all kinds of things. Which house does that person live in? What was that noise? Where is that family going? Will they take their dog with them? What are they doing? Who are they talking to? How do they treat their animal companions? Where is that squirrel hiding his nuts? Why are the little squirrels mean to the big ones with the bushy tails? Does that squirrel want me to chase him? Why is he so angry at me? What are the crows saying? Why are they looking at me like that? Are they plotting against me? Where are the bunnies hiding? What was that tiny movement in the grass? How can a grasshopper jump so high? Why do I only see butterflies in the warm season? Why do people plant flowers in their yard? Why don't people like to eat grass? Why haven't I seen the three legged cat lately? Why aren't there more cats in the neighbourhood? Are they all indoors? Where does the really tall man live? Why are those people jogging? Why is that dog looking at me like I'm crazy? Do other dogs wonder about things as much as I do? Why does it have to thunder? Why aren't my parents scared of thunder? Why does Jenny have to go to work? What's work mean?

As you can see there is so much for me to think about. Am I curious or nosy? What is the difference? Why do my parents tell me that taking me out for a walk is like walking a peeping Tom? What do they mean by this? Are they trying to tell me I'm a like a Tom cat?

I must go for a nap now, all this thinking has made me sleepy. So sleepy....

With love & cuddles,
Lottie

PS. Lesson #13 Curiosity takes you on a limitless path with twists and turns of thought. Don't forget to stop and rest for it is a long road....

A place of your own

It has occurred to me that it is not enough to live in a home with people you love. To be a truly happy and fulfilled dog you must heed the advice of a wise dog named Virginia Woof. She lived with a famously lovely but depressed human of the same name.

Ms. Woof barked that you must have a place of your own. A place within the home where you can eat a bone without interruptions, rest your weary head and escape from storms and other scary things.

I'd like to be the first dog with a blog to admit that I agree with her wholeheartedly. As a dog who lives with people I have a huge responsibility. I have to guard the house at all times (which can involve thorough investigations at all hours) and provide optimal care for my parents. I need to walk them on a regular basis and make sure they are happy and stress free. How can I do this if I don't have a place to call my own? For some dogs this place might be a small house in the back yard while for others it may be a spare bedroom. My place of sanctuary is on a cozy blue mat in the coolest room of the house (which is great in summer). It is a place where I can rest, contemplate and relax. In fact, I don't know how I would get along without it.

I think my parents would agree with Ms. Woof's advice. I notice that they too have quiet spots to read or draw. Why doesn't everyone?

With love & cuddles,

Lottie

PS. Lesson# 12. To be truly happy you must have a place of your own.

Noise

This may come as a surprise to some of you but I hate noise!! It's true. If people talk too loudly or for too long I bark at them, and when Daddy has his music too loud I leave the room. I particularly dislike the vacuum! To tell you the truth it scares me. There-- I'm dog enough to admit it. I just don't understand what it does or why it has to be so loud. At least my parents warn me before they start it up. They know it takes time to find a good hiding spot (I usually hide under the bed but don't tell the vacuum).

But the worst, noisiest thing that struck without warning happened three mornings ago.

It was a dreadful day! Jenny and I went out for our morning walk and I noticed that it was darker than usual. We had hardly begun our walk when it rained on us. Jenny and I got drenched but she was kind not to rush me (I don't really mind getting wet as long as I get dried off really well afterwards). After a short while I noticed that something in the air did not smell right. I just had a bad feeling so I turned around and headed for home. Jenny tried to convince me to do my "doggie business" but I just couldn't, not when I knew something awfully noisy was approaching.

We made it home but things got worse after Daddy and Jenny left the house. The wind picked up speed and the rain came down even harder than before, then...BOOM! It thundered. I hid under the bed but the noise continued off and on throughout the day. I had no choice but to stay hidden and wait for my parents to get home. I waited for an eternity. I was thirsty, hungry, lonely and wanted to relieve myself but I was a very good girl and held it. When Jenny finally came home she tried to take me out but I just wasn't ready yet. I couldn't stop shaking so she took me downstairs where it was nice and quiet and we waited there until the outside world calmed down.

A little later we ventured out and I was so thirsty I drank water from the puddles until Jenny stopped me. It all makes me appreciate the calm quiet home I have. What if I was chained outside like some dogs are? Or lost and aimlessly wandering the streets? I think I would have died from fright!

With love & cuddles,

Lottie

PS. Lesson#11 Noise can be annoying, a little scary, or terrifying but it always makes you appreciate the calm that follows.

Trust

Since I'm a dog living in a human dominated world I have no choice but to trust people. This can sometimes be scary but what choice do I have? Daddy says that if I develop opposable thumbs I can make my own decisions, but until that day comes I have to listen to him and Jenny and that means trusting them on a daily basis.

This morning after returning from my first walk I felt a vaguely familiar, itchy sort of feeling in my left eyebrow. Jenny must have detected my discomfort because she looked very concerned as she poked at my fur with her fingers. After smearing sticky gooey stuff onto the spot and pulling at me with tweezers she pulled out a tick! Yuck! How gross! She showed it to me for a moment before putting it into a glass jar. Ticks are so sneaky! In those brief moments when Jenny was pulling on my fur I had to trust her. I didn't know what was going on but since I know her and trust her intentions I allowed her to continue.

This evening Jenny announced that she had bought something just for me. I got very excited and my mind raced. What could it be? A bone? A treat? People food? (Well I really didn't believe it was people food but a girl can dream can't she?) It turned out to be a device called a beard trimmer! Now there is a lot about human culture I still need to learn but I do know that I don't have a beard. But it didn't seem to matter. Jenny said that it was time for a haircut and groomed me as she saw fit. While I didn't see the need at first I decided to trust her and allow her to trim away my beautiful red fur. Afterwards she told me that having shorter fur would mean fewer places for ticks to hide and would be cooler on hot days. Aww that Jenny. I knew my trust was not misplaced.

Trusting others can be scary but rewarding.

With love & cuddles,
Lottie



PS. Lesson#10 Trust your instincts and place your trust in those you love.