What I've Learned From My Pets

From Pepsy

When I was eleven years old, my parents gave me a fluffy bundle of cute for my birthday. I named my new puppy Pepsy. What I've learned from that wonderful little dog in the 15 years I was blessed to be able to have her in my life is:

• Give a puppy a bed & some snuggling, & they'll give you a lifetime of hugs
• Teach a dog to say she's sorry, & you'll be the one feeling bad when she wraps her legs around your neck & presses her face to yours, as she's trying to say "please don't be mad at me; I didn't mean to go potty on the carpet"
• A dog can catch another animal for sport, & not kill it, but instead let it go. Humans can learn a lot from that.
• Don't catch a frog with your mouth, unless you want a foamy mouth.
• Going to the vet, like going to the doctor, is unpleasant, yet necessary.
• Who cares what others think about how you look, when YOU know you're fabulous!
• It doesn't matter if you're little - you can still make your voice heard.
• When you want something badly enough, jump high until you get it!

From My Parents' Dog Shadow

My parents had a wonderful dog named Shadow. We don't know what kind of dog she was, but she looked like a Rottweiler mix. She was such a gentle, patient & unconditionally loving dog, whom the whole family loved. Here's what I've learned from her:

• Whether you like it or not, sometimes you have to allow small children to ride on your back.
• When someones sitting in your chair, sit on their lap.
• When you have the love of your family, you'll go through anything with them.
• Dogs know the true meaning of loyalty & devotion to those they love.

From My Son's Dog Badger

Badger was a puppy, when he became my son's dog. He was part Lhasa Apso & part Jack Russell Terrier. Smart as a whip, he learned very quickly, & he was very perceptive to the environment around him. He also let you know when he was upset if you went somewhere without him. He loved to play, but more importantly, he enjoyed giving & receiving love. I hesitate to post this, because his death devastated our family deeply, especially my son, but Badger deserves to be honored. Here's what I learned from the little guy:

• Smart is, as smart does. 
• When you want a cookie bad enough, you'll hold still with it on your nose until you've been given permission to eat it.
• One doesn't need permission to speak, but when you're told to, it's pretty cool when you get a treat for doing so.
• Teach a dog new tricks, & he'll do them, because he loves the praise, & he loves to please.
• Go on a trip without your dog, & he'll make you pay with his moping, when you return.
• Give a dog love, & you'll have a loyal friend for life.
• Begging works. So does flashing those big, brown puppy dog eyes!
• Sometimes you have to spell words like "treat" & "outside", so your dog doesn't get overly excited. Spell often enough though, & your dog will learn what you said.

From My Daughter's Cat Ella

For years, my daughter had begged for a cat of her own. We finally relented, & took her to our local animal shelter to pick one out. We wanted to make sure that she had the chance to interact with the cat before we took it home, in order to ensure they would both be compatible together, since my daughter was still a child. When Ella first came home with us, she hid behind the toilet, & did not want to be held. This sweet gal has since been a mischievous, entertaining, affectionate & wonderful part of our family for almost 7 years now. I have learned a lot from our cat:

• Look bored, & people will be begging you for attention.
• When you're a cat, even staring at the window sill is fascinating.
• Pretend you don't know your own name, & people will quit calling you.
• After going potty, run like the wind throughout the house. It's quite liberating.
• When the dog is hungry, so are you - even though you're not. It's an equal opportunity thing.
• When the dog gets on your nerves, take a nap in her bed - that'll show her!
• Never underestimate the insatiable desire to lick & eat the grossest of things. Used Kleenex, dirty t-shirts, bathroom trash - all provide a rich smorgasbord of amazing tastes & smells. Dare to try something different.
• Why play in the daytime, when you can play while everyone else is sleeping at night?
• Not sure if a cat can protect herself? Just make a loud, unexpected noise such as turning on a vacuum, or revving a motorcycle engine, while holding your kitty, & you'll have your answer.
• Cats know what to do to get what they want. Faking disinterest is the surest way to get more attention.
• Never, ever place your food on the desk that you are sitting at, when the desk is under the stairs & the cat has just used her litter box. It's amazing how a piece of cat litter can resemble a muffin crumb in appearance, but definitely not taste! Even strong mouthwash is no match for a strong cat litter!

My Dog Maggie 

Ah Maggie....What can I say about that little girl? A couple years after we adopted our cat Ella from the animal shelter, we decided to adopt a dog too. I researched breeds of dogs that would be compatible with our cat. When we went to the animal shelter to pick out a dog, there was Maggie, in a cage that had a note on the outside, telling people that she was free, which meant there would be no adoption fee. She had been there about 5 months, & giving her away for free was the shelter's last ditch effort to find her a home before considering her to be unadoptable. Just take a look at that sweet face. I couldn't resist her. She came home with a lot of emotional baggage though, & was completely untrained for a 5-year-old dog (they guessed at her age). She had terrible separation anxiety, & the first couple times we left her alone, she destroyed 3 floor rugs, 2 chair cushions, she chewed on the molding strip of our door, & she managed to rip to shreds the bottom 4 inches of our living room curtains. With a lot of love & patience, she became a very well-adjusted, happy & unconditionally loving little dog. Here's what I've learned from Maggie:

• When you can't speak someone's language, just pant a lot. It will leave others guessing as to whether you are hot, thirsty, hungry, wanting attention, excited, or in need of a potty break.
• Giving the sad, mopey, puppy dog look is the surest way to get what you want.
• When you want your belly rubbed, just capsize. You'll have them rubbing that belly in no time!
• Try not to confuse your dachshund-mix dog for an ottoman.
• If you don't want to go the direction someone is leading you, just plant your paws firmly into the ground & refuse to budge. They'll either let you have your way, or they'll pick you up & carry you. Either way, you win.
• Be patient. When you give someone unconditional love, acceptance & understanding, you will reap the rewards. Love a dog through her tough times, & she'll love you through yours.
• When you eat the cat's food & you're about to get in trouble, capsize or smile. People have a harder time being mad at you when you're being cute.
• If it's on the ground, it WILL be licked, sniffed or eaten.
• Sit by the neighbor's fence when you hear him outside, & he'll give you a cookie.
• Sometimes it pays to be funny-looking. Everyone wants to pet you.
• Smile often. It makes you irresistible, & people will have no choice but to stop what they're doing to say hello.
• If you have to wait too long to eat, pick up your food dish & drop a cement cloud hint!