Here is an image of two identical dog bones. Right?
The answer is yes, if you are a human. If you are a dog or can for a moment see through the eyes of a dog, the bone they want is the one you give to the other dog. That’s just how it works. Show them, tell them, even try to trick them, and they know they have the wrong bone. They are supposed to have the bone the other dog has until, of course they do, then the rotation starts all over again.
Finally, if you are lucky, they will actually chew on a bone and relinquish their obsession with the other - if but only for a moment.
Dogs will dig out of boredom, to bury treasures for later re-discovery, and to create a cool, damp place to lie. I learned from Sammy and Zoe dogs also dig for other reasons. . .
I have witnessed the aging process of many dogs. I personally had a Pitbull that was puppy for so many years that when asked how old she was, I would say, “five.” However, I had her since she was about two, and at least five years had passed. “Oh,” I corrected myself, “she’s seven or eight!” I believe that is because most of us want to deny our dogs are seniors even before they hit their early teens.
From the age of twelve to thirteen, it was evident there is truth to the concept that dogs age approximately seven years to our one. To me, it appeared she literally aged in a few months. Sure, denial played a part, but so did the fact that our dogs are proud creatures. They will rally and pull it together to please us at times when if they were human, they would be curled up in bed making certain we knew how bad they felt!
I have also learned that dog hours are very different than ours. Moby will assure me at 3:00 that it is at least 6:00 or 7:00 in dog-time. He comes to me asking for dinner, as I assure him, “it’s only 3:00 so you’ll have to wait, Bud.” Just to keep things interesting, some days, I will put the food down early. All it means to them is a full belly and nap time. When the real 6:00 rolls around and they look at me like I’m forgetting something, I remind them they already ate dinner according to human time.
It’s ok to honor dog-time. Some would encourage tough love - I say, “pick your battles.” If feeding a dog at 3:00 (actually 6:00, their time), is the most you give in to your dog, you’re doing great!
I am writing this post because good things can and do come in little packages. The shelters used to only be filled with large dogs. That’s no longer true. If you are interested in adopting a little dog, the shelters are full of them waiting to make your life a little bit better!
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If you have followed my blog, you know of my little Yorkie named Melody. You may not think there is a need to describe a Yorkie as little; however, she is tiny. I was volunteering at the shelter when she was brought in. Her services as a breeder at a puppy mill were no longer needed. At this age of her life (about 7 years old) had probably never known kindness from a human. She was more than willing to bite if you got too close. Not exactly a spokes-dog for the hold-me-in-your-lap Yorkie someone would be looking for when adopting.
Having enjoyed the company of large breed dogs, I had not intended on adopting Melody. I would take her home to work with her on being a little kinder to her prospective new family. Melody never even attempted to bite me. She knew she was safe. The first time I heard her bark, I did a double-take! It was obvious she had been debarked. In my opinion, it’s a terrible thing to do to a dog. There are other far less invasive tools - not to mention the benefits of training.
She has been with me two years. She may never willingly approach another human other than myself. However, to see who she is now compared to who she was is nothing short of wonderful. Here is a short video clip of Melody and her raspy little voice asking, “where’s my dinner?”
Watch this video as a dog known for his shy behavior, goes for help when there’s a fire at home. The patrol car sees the dog and it’s obvious that Buddy is leading them to his home. Apparently, the GPS had frozen on the vehicle. Buddy’s guidance was instrumental in leading the Troopers to the fire.
Puppy Season is upon us! It sounds exciting doesn’t it? Puppies are adorable and make us smile! They smell good and make the sweetest sounds. Later in life, the smell and sounds as they sit in the shelter aren’t quite as appealing. I know there are people who want to share the miracle of birth and the wonder of these new, precious lives with their kids or just for themselves. May I make a suggestion?
If you really want that puppy experience, (or an “accident” occurs because the dog wasn’t neutered/spayed), and you can keep and care for all of the pups throughout their lives, great. If you are like most and about five weeks into the adventure of puppy-dom the thrill is gone and you place ads on Craigslist or wait in front of the grocery store with a basket of pups, here’s an alternative. Connect with a local rescue group or shelter and offer to foster a pregnant dog or her puppies, and then you can have the experience and feel great about your contribution.
There are a lot of reputable breeders who have waiting lists of people wanting their dogs. This is not about you. While I may think a moratorium on breeding sounds like a great idea, it’s not the solution. The ones most responsible for the over-population wouldn’t participate any way!
I know I say it often, but do what you can to help the shelters and rescue/foster organizations. You may be surprised at what may seem like a little feels like a lot to those who need your help.
If you want to adopt a puppy or any dog for that matter, I am very happy to help hook you up with a rescue or to check out the area shelters for you. It can be overwhelming, but trust me, it’s well worth it!
The answer is yes, if you are a human. If you are a dog or can for a moment see through the eyes of a dog, the bone they want is the one you give to the other dog. That’s just how it works. Show them, tell them, even try to trick them, and they know they have the wrong bone. They are supposed to have the bone the other dog has until, of course they do, then the rotation starts all over again. 
