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Dogs: Master Teachers of Living in the Moment

For eleven years I have had the great privilege of belonging to a black, toy poodle named Toots.

I have had a lot of fun teaching her words and phrases that she correctly identifies with specific concepts or actions. She knows that if she skillfully says hello, mom for dinner or right now for a cookie treat, she gets results.

But the more important role she plays in my life is teaching me about life. Dogs definitely live in the moment, each day, every minute implementing Carpe Diem.
My synonym tool for this expression says grab the chance, make the most of it and that is exactly what dogs do.

If you ask them if they want to go for a walk, do they sit down and ponder it, trying to decide if maybe they would rather do something else, or do they squeal with delight, whirl with excitement, rush to the door and make sure you know where you keep their collar and leash?

They have their own brand of communication to relay their wants, needs and even fears. Toots will sometimes start to tremble even before I hear the first rumble of thunder. I do not like lightening because I once lived in an apartment in an eight-story building and I quivered every time a lightening bolt struck in the narrow alleyway between my building and the next.

Thunder does not bother me a bit although my family tells of my grandmother who used to hide in a closet when it thundered. I suspect Toots takes after her, so when it thunders, as storms roiling across the desert occasionally do, I take Toots into bed and comfort her as she shakes uncontrollably.

Toots also tells me when her back and neck hurt. She will come right up to my feet, turn around and sit down and lower her head slightly. How plain can that be? She knows that I will gently massage her neck, back and legs.

Dogs love a massage as much as we do. Poodles have to be regularly clipped or they wind up looking like Cocker Spaniels. She doesn’t mind being clipped although she hates my fiddling with the nail clipping, but it all seems much more worthwhile if a massage is part of the bargain and she relaxes much more.

Other needs may be communicated in not so subtle ways. Have you ever felt idolized when returning home? Every noisy, joyful, tail-thumping greeting is another indication of his/her unconditional love plus admiration for you as a hunter-gatherer when you bring home that delicious-smelling roast chicken.

I changed the way I feed Toots some years ago. I used to feed her a very good commercial brand of moist dog food. But after viewing a TV program on how manufacturers make hot dogs, I changed.

Hot dogs for human consumption are a disgusting mash of beef, chicken and pork trimmings, including skin and fat, made palatable with the addition of mustard and spices. If this is for us folks, can you imagine what the meat by-products for canned dog food consist of?

I boil boneless, skinless chicken thighs slowly for one and a half hours in purified water. I scrape off any remaining scraps of fat and put the chicken broth in the refrigerator overnight. Next day, I scoop off the fat that has risen to the top and hardened. I use a little of this broth to soften the kibbles in her main meal.

I portion out the chicken into plastic baggies and put the broth into small plastic containers and freeze them.

To the kibbles I add small portions of chicken and beef liver (that I have cooked and also frozen in small portion amounts) with steamed vegetables. Toots likes broccoli, cauliflower, peas, green beans, carrots and squash. Occasionally I sprinkle a little virgin olive oil over the food. I think that she eats better than some people I know! Her continued good health reflects that.

All in all, I enjoy treating my special pal well, feeding her good, nutritious food that she enjoys and returning the love she generously gives me every single day. I thank the heavens that I belong to such a kind, smart, sweet natured, loving dog who makes me laugh and keeps me organized.

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