Dekker is back to work!
Welcome to Dekker’s page of canine reflections. What?! Didn’t you know dogs can write? Dogs (and cats, on occasion) are great thinkers and only need a bit of transcription to get their wisdom into the world. (Cats may need a few more assistive devices!)
Dekker is a service dog, highly trained to do helpful things like provide a four-footed base of support to his two-footed human and to remind me that life is doable (with a little help). And, of course, he is faithful to remind me when it is time to feed him. The latter talent he has down to perfection. If you want to read more about Dekker, hit the tab in the menu bar or go here.or go here.
This week, Dekker is back from a short break to answer questions and reflect with canine wisdom because “life can get complicated.”
Dear Dekker,
I missed your advice last month. Are you OK? I wanted to ask you
if you ever get a vacationbut apparently you do. I am in business for myself
andit is so hard to find time to do the things that make life fun.
After working all day all I want to do is watch TV.
What do you suggest?
Busy Bob
Woof Woof, Bob – I am unsure what ‘vacation’ means. I go to different places with my human, sometimes for a week at a time. She calls it a vacation but it’s all the same to me. My food is the same. She brings my bed so it is the same, and between naps and working to keep her out of trouble, I sleep.
No change there.
I am more concerned that you haven’t found fun in your work. If your work was FUN, you might not need to watch TV because you would be too tired after a full day of having a good time.
It’s like picking up my toys. I love to do that. I run all over the house hunting for balls and bones and carrying them to a special box. Of course, there is always a piece of kibble waiting, but mostly I do this work because it is fun.
I suggest having someone hide your toys or whatever you play with on your job…pens and files, phones and lists…and then as you find each one and do with it what you are supposed to, have a piece of kibble!
And then a nap.
Your life will change a lot once you make your work more fun. And you won’t have to write to a dog for guidance.
Dear Dekker,
I am afraid of growing old. I notice you are getting grey hairs on your chin…like me.
I worry that when I am old, I won’t have a purpose. I won’t be able to play tennis
or go skiing, which I love, and I may have to ask for help, and that scares me.
What can I do so aging won’t be scary?
Thank you, Helen
Woof Woof, Helen,
First of all, I find the grey hairs on your chin quite charming. Give me a chance, and I will rub them with a cold nose, and I bet you would smile. Perhaps you know someone who would be willing to do that?
I have never gone skiing. It looks fun, but I can’t imagine myself on four skis at the top of a slope. But I do have a tennis ball, and I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t chase it. I think I would keep it in my bed and gnaw on it some.
There is more than one way to get pleasure from tennis. If you don’t like to gnaw on your ball, you might enjoy writing about playing tennis to inspire younger people to take up the game.
Dear Dekker,
My name is Dorie. I am a dog with a fancy title…I’m told I am a micro-golden-doodle but
I don’t see any difference between me and the dogs I meet at day-care.
We all have four feet, two ears and a lot of fun!! Do you ever get
to play with other dogs? Between you and me I think we
have a lot more fun than humans. They spend most of their time
with their nose in a book or facing a screen.
I try to get my person to play more, but she doesn’t know how to run and jump
and although she plays tug of war with me, I never see her tug on a rope
with other humans. I’ve tried running around her and barking.
I jump into her lap to get my message across,
but I am afraid my person doesn’t get much fun.
What do you suggest?
Yip Yip, Dorie
Woof Dorie, Woof! I know exactly what you mean. After kibble, FUN is the most important thing in life. I think humans have forgotten how to enjoy everything they are doing.
They separate work from play and then only allow fun during play. I suggest you lie quietly beside her as she ‘works.’ She will think you are the best dog in the world, especially if you use the eyeball trick.
Look into her face every few minutes and roll your eyes…and maybe wiggle your butt. I guarantee you will see her smile.
I think dogs and cats are higher up on the ‘fun-chain’, and our biggest job is to teach humans what they have forgotten—that life can be lots of FUN— full of snuggles, kibble and giggles.
Dekker posts the first sunday of the month. Don’t miss it!
