Dekker Wisdom and other Pawnderings
Welcome to Dekker’s post! If you are a new reader of TheReflectivePen, this may be the first time you have met Dekker.
A British Black lab that works as a service dog for the creator of this blog, Dekker answers questions of readers (and sometimes their furry friends) with his unique canine wisdom and perspective of life…particulary human life.
Today, he reflects on snow, sniffing, and spas. If you enjoy his ‘pawndering’, feel free to leave a comment at the end. And he reminds me that if you leave him a question, he will get a piece of kibble. Professional writers do get ‘paid,’ you know.
Dear Dekker,
I am sitting here watching the snow fall all around my house.
I bet there is a foot of it already, and I am not looking forward to shoveling it,
although it is beautiful. Do you like the snow? Or do you find it too cold on your paws?
Love, Bonnie
Woof Woof, Bonnie, I really do love to run and jump in the snow. Sometimes my paws feel the cold, but it is better than the heat from the pavement in the summer. I find when something makes me uncomfortable, if I remember the alternative, it doesn’t bother me so much.
You didn’t ask about what it feels like to pee in the snow, but then I guess that isn’t something you worry about. It is only a problem when the snow is really deep and fluffy. But I never complain.
Difficult things go better when you do them and get them over quick. Don’t you agree?
Dear Dekker,
I was walking in a park the other day and someone came
by with a dog on a leash who was sniffing every person
he could reach.I guess that is what dogs do, but I really don’t like it.
Have you ever done that? What is so important that it has to be sniffed?
Thank you, Classy Connie
Woof Woof, Connie, That dog was doing what humans do when they go to a museum— learning about his world.
I guess people go to these places because their noses don’t give them much information.
My nose can smell literally thousands of different odors, and each one tells me something about my world…who has been in that spot, what they had for supper, where they had been before coming to the store, who their dogs friends are, and what other animals had been there…even to cats, and mice and bugs.
Learning not to sniff everything took a lot of training. Learning to sit, and lie down are simple by comparison.
I have known some dogs that flunked service dog training because they couldn’t control their nose. (I bet a human would never have this problem.) And another pooch who actually was sent to a different kind of school because he was so good with his nose. Today, he works for the military.
Dear Dekker,
I went to a spa today and got my nails done.
After getting my hair done in a fancy new style,
I had a facial and a massage. It was quite a treat.
They should have spas for dogs, don’t you think?
Sassy Samantha,
Woof Woof, Samantha
I suppose you could call my trip to the groomer every month a spa…it sounds similar, although I don’t get my nails polished. I do enjoy getting my back scratched after a nice bath, but I wouldn’t go for just that.
I am happy to have it scratched at home.
I watch humans do lots of things that I wouldn’t do. For example, they go dancing, which seems silly to me. Everyone is moving all around without going anywhere in particular.
Why do humans do that?
When I move, I have a good reason for doing so—to follow a scent, to chase a ball, or to go get supper. But if I started just moving around in circles in one spot I can bet it would mean a trip to the vet.
Another thing I don’t understand a human doing is when they sit and watch people dancing on a screen. That seems even weirder than dancing yourself.
I guess that is something that makes people totally different than dogs. I am content to rest my chin on the floor and feel the touch of someone scratching my head, while I watch the sun rise or set.
What could be more satisfying than that?
I prefer that to a spa any day. Try it.
You might like it. Woof!
Dekker asks that you sign up for more kibble…for him, not you.
TheReflectivePen publishes his Pawnderings once a month.
