Sister Act (part 1)

I was born with five brothers and sisters. They were fun to play with, and that was good. When I was 9 weeks old, I went to live with my human and became an only child and the center of attention. That was VERY good.

Making new friends at puppy obedience school was a blast, especially because I was the tallest in the group and got to be the leader. My natural herding instinct kicked in around that time and the rules of our games were simple: I corralled all the girls in a big circle and the other boys had to stay on the outside.

Eventually my human made two decisions. One was to enroll me in sheep herding class, and the second was to get another dog.

I imagined a beautiful German shepherd sister, a little younger and a little smaller so I’d be the boss. My human had other ideas. She adopted Avalon, who was 8 years old, taller, outweighed me, and wasn’t even a German shepherd but a mostly Anatolian shepherd for goodness sake!

I knew I had to assert my leadership right away, but my attempts to chase and corral her were ignored. When I stole her chew treat, she calmly took it back. When I stood my ground and nipped her ear, did she even blink? Nooo! She knocked me down, leaned on me with 100 pounds of resolute force, and took it back again. And my human gave her just as much attention as she did me! This was not fair!

After pouting for a while, I noticed that as long as I wasn’t pushy, Avalon was sort of nice. She’d had a tough, knock-about life and had valuable lessons to share. She took over one toy, a stuffed rat I was never again permitted to touch, and I learned manners. Why be possessive over one toy when I had so many? She was a serious guardian of our human and our home but an example of keen evaluation skills when I was overly aggressive. Why get all mad over nothing? Avalon became my leader, and I didn’t mind at all.

Gradually, we settled into years of cheery companionship. We walked with our human, sharing our discoveries. We went to the country where Avalon taught me how to swim in fresh water ponds. She was a good wrestler and sometimes generously let me win. Avalon even decided to join in my singing, and we howled in harmony. Really LOUD harmony: our human said every moose up in Canada could probably hear us.

One day Avalon didn’t feel well, and after that she had to go to the vet’s a lot. I worried when she stayed there overnight, but she always came home a little bit stronger. It seemed like she was sick for a long time. I was overjoyed when she felt better at last and we started to play and walk together again. I could sense that Avalon wasn’t quite the same and remembered to be gentle and kind, just like she was.

Then Avalon started feeling bad again. She went back to the vet’s and didn’t come home, but I knew she’d be back just like always. A day passed, then another, and I started to worry and look for her. I found Avalon’s stuffed rat and carried it outside, biting down to make it squeak. That would bring her on the run! I squeaked and listened and waited, but Avalon never came home. Finally I sat down and howled once, sad and alone. My best friend was gone.

New Year, New Tricks

Every year, our human friends get all fired up about making New Year’s resolutions. By this time, they’ve usually broken most of them. I think they aim too high. Dogs know it’s the little things in life that are important. So, let’s give our friends some new resolutions. With our help, they can’t fail.

1. Stop to Think. When we walk together, most humans march along without stopping to appreciate a fallen leaf, a blade of grass, a puddle of rain or a puddle around a fire hydrant. It’s up to us to make them pause and reflect upon the simple things. The next time your human totes a load of laundry down the hall to the washing machine, walk slightly ahead and suddenly hit the brakes. When commanded to move, pretend to be lost in thought and unable to hear (all dogs are good at this). If you are large, they can’t get around you; if you are small, they're afraid you might get stepped on. Either way, they must stop to examine their surroundings. Is that an overlooked cobweb in the corner? Is that family portrait slightly askew? And when was the last time we gave Aunt Gertie and Uncle Hank a call? These moments of quiet contemplation can do wonders for the human spirit.

2. Reach out and Touch Someone. Humans often resolve to pay more attention to their loved ones. Dogs can lead the way. After you polish off your next meal, get close to your human and say thank you with a resounding burp. Give them a sloppy kiss, a quick snuggle or a soft touch with your paw several times a day. A little hair and mud on their clothes is a small price to pay for letting them know you care. The more you reach out, the more your human will remember that we all need a hug now and then.

3. Sing a Song. Whether we harmonize with a neighborhood pooch or a passing siren, dogs know there’s nothing like a good sing-a-long. It feels great to sing, so take center stage and, in the words of Mama Cass, make your own kind of music. Start out soft and low, then build to a crescendo that rattles the windows. If your human doesn’t raise their voice in song, at least they’ll raise their voice to be heard over all your noise!

4. Boogie Down. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a hundred times: humans want to get more exercise. What could be more fun than dancing? Promenade left and do-sa-do, wrap 'em in the leash and around they go! At home, grab your favorite toy and really shake its bootie. Your joyful leaping and spinning should set human toes to tappin’. If not, let your toy fly free in the direction of something breakable. Your human will get on their feet in no time!

5. Share the Joy. Lucky dogs like me get lots of goodies during the holidays from friends and family. Even though their heart’s in the right place, sometimes humans don’t make informed choices. Won’t they ever notice that I don’t like peanut butter treats, or the Yorki-sized pet bed with the pattern of cherubs and daisies just isn’t my style, or that a cat toy (ewwww!!) is not appropriate under any circumstances? Now’s your chance to help your human keep their resolution to "give more" and drag them by the leash to the local shelter. Your rejected gifts can make a homeless pet happy while they wait for their own special human. And on your way back, swing by the nearest store for a treat you’ll really love because, remember, charity begins at home!