DEKKER RESPONDS TO HOLIDAY BLUES
Why would anyone listen to a dog? This is a question only cat owners or bird fanciers ask. A dog may not speak English, but any dog handler will tell you exactly what they are asking for when their tail begins to dance. During quiet days at home Dekker, a trained Service Dog, has taken up writing to help people with his wisdom and anticipates hearing how he might help you.
If you missed last month’s post, Dekker, answered a number of questions from a quartet of cats. Today he reflects on some common anxieties that people are struggling with. If you would like some of Dekker’s advice, leave your question in the comments below.
Dear Dekker,
It makes me sad that our large extended family
will not be gathering for holiday celebrations this year.
I wish I knew some ways to make things special anyway.
Thank you, Alice
Woof, Alice. I sleep under the table for all meals, including holiday feasts. I get to listen to a lot of conversations. What I hear the most is stories and comments about the food. Mostly about the food! Woof!
And it really makes my day when someone drops a piece of turkey my way. Perhaps you could drop a piece of turkey or pie at someone’s house.
If they live alone, you might tuck a note with a link for a zoom call. Then you could share a story or two also.
Don’t forget my friends at the animal shelter. They like to celebrate too. Woof Woof.
Dear Dekker,
Your wise thoughts are marvelous. My Annabelle often is
frustrated with my need to give her a hug. As long
as I offer kibble and quiet time near the open,
screened window, she deals. Thank you for being
there to offer a paw of friendship.
–Carolyn
Woof! Carolyn, Annabelle may belong to the Order of Feline Saints. Not many are chosen for this sacred calling. Her desire to sit quietly by the window reveals her contemplative side.
Any good saint is also concerned about feeding the hungry, and it may be that the window is the best outlook for mice. I am so sorry this is hard for you, woof woof.
I notice she also brings out your kibble-kindness. Typical for a saint. Don’t you agree? Perhaps there is (or should be) a St. Annabelle Day. I’ve been begging for a Dekker Day, but I am no saint. However, I do receive hugs.
Dear Dekker,
There is a lot of sadness in our home this year
because I lost my job and the cat died.
Do dogs ever get sad? How can I be happy?
I feel like running away but there is no place to go.
— Anton
Woof, Anton, Woof Woof. Well, doesn’t that stink! I have noticed that humans don’t like stinky things. I, on the other paw, check everything out very closely. Even tasting it.
My human gets all excited when I do that, but she doesn’t always understand how much I can learn by not running away from stinky things.
Don’t run away from sadness. Get real close to see what it looks like, where it comes from, and what it is made of. Stinky things teach us so much. Don’t concentrate so much on being ‘happy’.
Stay with the ‘stinky’ until it dries up and goes away. It will, soon enough.
And get a kitten who wants to cuddle! Woof Woof
Dear Dekker,
How does it feel to always be looking up for contact?
–Thank you, Bonnie
Woof, Bonnie,
It’s funny you should ask this question because I wonder how it feels to always have to look down for contact. We each believe the world looks (and smells) the best from our angle. I have seen a lot of people looking up chimneys in late December. I have no explanation for that odd activity. I guess, from our own angle, what we see is normal.
Dear Dekker,
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. You really understand a lot about our lives and yours. We think humans don’t always give us enough credit for what we do know but express in a different way. Could they be less intuitive than they think they are? Or maybe they don’t act on it. Although we were domesticated way later than you dogs, we all have developed a special relationship with our humans that is meaningful to us both.
Meow, purr, meow, purr….The Fab Four Felines
(Read Dekker’s Advice to Cats )
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Francisca
Dekker is one very wise pooch! These are golden nuggets that we can use anytime, not just this holiday season. Thank you!
Ardis Mayo
Thank you for recognizing canine wisdom. Not everyone is able to understand dogs…or cats.
Dara Perfit
All of you animal parents out there certainly know that we are the best antidotes to the blues. Even when we are sleeping, we cats can purr. We give you warmth and adoration, attention and playfulness. So when you are sad, perhaps looking out (up or down) to us can bring you away from your sadness.
Communicating with us and paying attention to our needs may help you with yours.
Our vet told us this week that he is overwhelmed with people bringing their pets in for a visit. Maybe that’s because you humans are really seeing us since you are home so much now.
Maybe really seeing the beautiful things in the world around us will help bring you out of the blues. Maybe getting down to see our world will give you our perspective in addition to ours. (Of course you then have to get up again, creaking bones and all, but that’s your problem!)
Meow, meow, purr, purr,
The Fabulous Four Felines
Ardis Mayo
Woof to the FAb Four…I admit I never gave a lot of credit to cats for depth of thought. You are changing my mind.
helen Willey
I had a HymaLayan Siamese’Maine coon that stayed out all night, slept all day and couldn’t care less about me. My 3 poodles over the course of 30 years gave,me endless pleasure. Hannah came to Avalon but always wanted to go back to her home in Bangor, went across to Don Murray’s to pee, loved to go for rides with nose to the window, knew all my habits, anticipated every move, great cuddler and walked me twice a day. You are a handsome, playful service dog, Dekker that Millie loves to visit. You are a comfort to Ardis. Keep in touch and know you are appreciated.
Your admirer, Helen
Ardis Mayo
Woof! Thank you for all the love and support you have given over the years to poodles. Personally I wouldn’t want hair that curly, but they seem to like it. —Dekker
Bette Ryan
Dekker, your suggestion for using a Zoom meeting is right on. I thought I was going to be very lonesome, far from my family on Thanksgiving. But my son arranged a meeting so I could see and talk to relatives in California, NY, NJ, Maine, and across the Atlantic to England and Ireland. Wonderful! I wish I had a dog like you, but they are not allowed in the home I rent. So I made a donation to the Humane Society and in appreciation they sent me an adorable 12″ high plush toy terrier. I named him Sandy. He is very well behaved. I talk to him all the time. Someday I will get a real smart dog like you.
Ardis Mayo
Woof! Thank you for supporting the canine homeless. I am a certified service dog and ADA laws would allow me to live in a rental home if I were needed there. You can read more about service dogs here https://thereflectivepen.com/what-makes-a-dog-a-service-dog/ —-Woof, Dekker
Bonnie Kline
Woof Dekker,
Great advice about “staying with the Stinky until it dries up and goes away”, Always wanting to be “happy” is highly over rated. You don’t learn as much by aspiring to live in the happy lane. You are one smart Woofer, Dekker!
Ardis Mayo
Woof, Bonnie. Thanks for the compliment.
Cindy R
Dekker, you give such good advice and I know you share big love with your humans. I sure miss my Katie and being able to snuggle a warm fuzzy dog friend. It’s kind of lonely some times. When we can finally visit each other in our homes, I’ll sit on your sofa and you can get back on my lap as you used to do. (We’ll have to try to keep Moxie and Merton from joining us at the same time!)
Ardis Mayo
Woof, Cindy. I bet it is lonely without Katie. It’s hard to snuggle with a picture. I love laps! Both to sit on and to taste with! Soon we can do the ‘lap’ thing. woof woof, Dekker.