From A Dog's Perspective

Ever wonder what our dogs think of our busy, stress-filled lives?  Do they understand why we sometimes don't have time to take them on a long walk or that we're too tired to play ball with them?  They're always so excited to see us after a long day and yet all we do is yell at them for tearing up the house in our absence.  Do we stop to think about how that makes them feel?  Here's a little story about the life of a human as seen through a dog's eyes.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself reaching for your favorite pup with one hand and a tissue with the other! 

 
"It must be morning...I'm hungry.  Then again, I’m always hungry so it could really be any time!  I can hear the shower, so I’m guessing my human is awake.  I lift my head off my bed and look down the passage .  I want a shower too.  Sometimes I try and get in but he won’t let me.  Boring!  He’s not very happy in the mornings anymore.  He used to be, but things have changed.  I think it’s stress.  Not really sure what that is, but I know it’s not good.  It’s a human thing.  I’ve heard him talk about it on the phone.  Don’t really know what a phone is either, but I know they’re good to chew!  Chewing is one of my favorite things!" 

 
"In the good old days, we wrestled and played every morning.  These days though, not so much.  We would play ball before he went to work and again after work too.  He’d throw, I’d fetch...he’d throw, I’d fetch...forever!  What a game!  So much fun!  He’d laugh and talk human. I’d growl.  I’d laugh if I could but mostly I’d just wag my tail!  I think it’s sad that humans don’t have tails!  Sometimes he’d lose focus, so I would nudge him.  Maybe a little nip on the hand just to keep his head in the game!  How much fun can one dog and one human have?  But lately he seems grumpy.  Sometimes, I wonder if he still loves me.  I lick him anyway because he’s my favorite human in the world!  I get so excited to see him!  When he hugs me, my tail wags all by itself!  I wonder why my kisses don’t make him happy like they used to." 

 
"I liked it more when we lived in the first house...the little one.  That was 3 houses ago.  He played with me the most in that house.  He was happier and he didn’t yell at me for getting on the couch or chewing his expensive shoes.  We used to watch TV together on the couch every night.  Well, I slept...he watched!  He would rest his hand on my head.  I love that!  Now we live in a big house with a big dumb couch.  A dumb couch for humans only...not dogs!  I don’t like the big house or the dumb couch!  He makes me stay down on the stupid slippery polished floor.  The other day I slid into the table and hurt my nose.  Stupid floor!" 

 
"When I was a puppy, we went everywhere together.  We used to walk to the park every day.  We’d hang out with other dogs and their humans.  We don’t walk together much these days and, when we do, he talks on the phone.  I hate that stupid phone!  I’m gonna eat it when he’s not looking!  We would also go for long drives in the old station wagon and I would put my head out the window or on his lap.  It was the most fun ever!  No more head out the window action for me these days though.  Mr Serious has a new fancy schmancy car.  Apparently, it’s a dog-free zone too.  On the rare occasion that I do get a ride, I have to lie on 3 blankets with no wind in my face.  What’s the point of that?  Like having a bone you can’t chew!  Stupid!"

 
"We used to go to the beach every weekend in that old station wagon too.  We surfed together.  Well, he surfed and I chased seagulls, played in the waves and rolled in the sand!  He liked talking to the lady humans who wanted to play with me.  They only talked to him because I was there!  Sometimes he got kisses but I always got more!  On the way home I would put my wet, sandy, hairy body on the front seat and he was happy I was next to him.  I loved that car too!  Those were the days!" 

 
"We haven’t done anything like that in years.  He's just too busy now.  Too busy being successful and important to have fun with me.  Glad I’m not successful...it doesn’t look like much fun!  I’m so adorable...I don’t understand why he doesn’t miss me!  In fact, I don’t really understand him much at all anymore!  He’s supposed to be smarter than me but I’m not so sure about that these days!" 

 
"I used to sleep along side him in his big comfy bed.  Used to (heavy sigh) but now he has a new dog-free bed too.  Of course!  I hate that bed!  I chew the legs when he’s not around!  Next year we’re moving to yet another house...an even bigger one.  Maybe that will make him happy.  Hope so but I doubt it.  If I could speak, I’d tell him that too!  I don’t get the big house thing...us dogs don’t really care how big our kennel is, we just want to be near our human!" 

 
"I know I’m just a dog and I don’t really understand a lot of human stuff, but I do
know about fun and happiness!  He’s rarely happy these days and he’s always too tired to do anything fun...even when I pull his sleeve or lick his face!  If he got rid of the stupid slippery floor, the dumb couch, the fancy car and just played with me more, then perhaps he would be happy!  Me too!"

 
I hope this serves as a reminder to us all that our pets have feelings too, and they deserve to be treated in the same way we would treat our closest human companions.  So the next time  you're not really feeling the puppy love, take a moment to put yourself in your dog's paws and think about this touching "tail"!  Wag-wag!   

 
Happy tails to you until we meet again!