Just For Fun - Little Life Lessons From My Dogs

I love my dogs.  I love ALL dogs.   They make me happy until they make me very sad (Cue the song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan and heartbreaking doggie eyes looking at you from behind wire cages...)  I look at my two guys sprawled in a soft, fluffy dog bed and think, these are two lucky pups.  But I’m lucky too.  They make my life better and, in a funny way, they reinforce some of life’s little lessons.

When Chase wants a walk, he goes over to the table where we keep the bin for the leashes.  Looking up at the bin, he gives a little jump or two and maybe a bark.   Sometimes, it’s not time for a walk or it’s raining or too cold, so he’ll incite a play battle with Dude or go grab a ball and bring it to me.     Chase says:  If you have exercise plans that fall through, find another way.  Have a plan B.

Dude has a sensitive stomach so he’s picky with his treats.   Sometimes I offer him one and he doesn’t accept it.  Sometimes he prefers to eat all his food at night, essentially fasting for about 24 hours.  Dude says:  It’s okay to turn down a treat if you don’t want it.    You don’t have to eat food just because it’s there.   Intermittent fasting works well for some. 

On the flip side, Chase is very food motivated and rarely meets a treat he won’t eat.   He starts the day with food on the brain!  Chase says:  It’s okay to have a 'food first, business later' mentality.  Some of us require a balanced meal before getting on with the day. 

The park, dinner-time, my family getting home from work, naps under the covers, warm sunshine on the deck: I know what these dogs enjoy; they don’t hide it!   Chase and Dude say:  Get excited about the little things…these are the things that make life great!

They call it downward dog for a reason.  After each nap or sunbathing session on the deck, they both slowly stretch forward and backward before moving.  Dude says:  Stretch after being sedentary for a while.

Chase is energetic,  intelligent, and fun.  Dude is anxious, silly, and affectionate.  Chase and Dude say:  Be unapologetically you.

Life is too short to take everything so seriously; I hope you enjoyed this bit of lightheartedness.  Life is also too short to spend time feeling guilty or stressed about exercise or dietary choices.  If you, or someone you know, is ready to make sustainable changes and could use a supportive coach that keeps your goals and preferences in mind, please get in touch with me!