Dekker shares his wisdom
Welcome to an inside peek at some of the wisdom of Dekker, a service dog who loves to listen to people…and their pets.
Learning to listen and hear what our furry companions have to teach us is one important path to spiritual growth, even though they may not look like a priest or guru.
Each month you may look forward to questions submitted to Dekker about life and read his ‘woofy’ response.
Today, Dekker answers the following questions…..
- Why does my dog pull on his leash?
- How to handle holiday blues?
- What to do with a new cat?
- Does my dog know what is happening on TV?
- Why are dogs treated better than some people?
Dear Dekker:
Why does my dog Chester pull on his leash when we go for a walk?
I don’t walk very fast, but even if I run he pulls me to go faster.
Where is he headed in such a hurry?
Thank you, Paula
Woof, Paula. This is funny. I got another email from Chester who says no matter how hard he tries he can’t get you to keep up with him.
I think, between the two of you, you need to decide whose leash it is.
Chester is doing his best to get you to smell the world the way he does and will never understand that his human’s nose doesn’t work like his.
If you could smell what is getting him excited you would want to run too. From his perspective, you’re missing all the fun.
Can you show him it is more fun to walk slowly by your side? You can do this with kibble and lots of praise.
If Chester knew about the secret power of praise together with pieces of chocolate (human kibble) his ownership of the leash would not be a problem. You would happily follow him anywhere.
Dear Dekker,
Whenever there is a holiday season I always get depressed.
Do you have any advice on how to stay cheery
when I don’t feel that way inside?
Thank you, Elly.
Woof Woof, Elly. Sometimes I feel depressed too, like when we haven’t left the house for months.
I mope. Do you mope? There is an art to moping.
If you put your chin on the floor, roll your eyes up and make one little flop with your tail…oh wait! You don’t have a tail!
Well— just put your chin on the floor and roll your eyes up at whoever is nearby.
It is sure to get you a pat on the head and maybe even your ears scratched.
Sometimes I return the pat with a wet kiss, but for some reason, that isn’t always received with a smile.
So then I go back to moping.
A good old-fashioned mope can be the best way to get back your joy. It’s hard to keep your chin on the floor without laughing.!!
Dear Dekker,
I have been trying to listen to my cat Mittens
the way you talked about in a previous article, but she
only glares at me and turns her back. Does she hate me?
I wish she would cuddle up against me like the last cat I had.
What is your take on this?
Harold.
Woof, Harold. Your new cat is not ever going to be like your last cat.
The Great Cat Creator only uses one plan per cat, so even if they look a little bit alike, they will never act…or react…the same way.
Some cats find it more difficult to express themselves than others. Mittens is not that cat.
She has a lot to say, though it is possible no one has ever listened to her before. I tend to glare at my person when I want her to listen to me.
Mittens is full of stories and needs someone to help write her memoir.
It is OK if you don’t have all the details. She will tell you. And it is OK if you don’t get the story perfectly right.
Since listening is an intimate act you may not miss the cuddling so much.
Dear Dekker
I was watching a movie from 1932
and the barking dog from almost 100 years
ago on the screen seemed to be having a conversation
with my dog who proceeded to listen and answer back
throughout the scene. So were they really having a conversation?
Or just making noise? It was a horror movie so we wondered if indeed
the dog in the movie was warning people and my little guy was, in turn, warning us.
Suzanne
Woof, Suzanne, woof! Movies are a mystery to me but I will try to answer anyway.
First of all, I don’t understand why people enjoy something that has no smell. I look at a screen and see bodies but can’t smell sweat. I see the wind and rain but there is nothing to feel.
I find TV very boring.
Perhaps if my person put on movies of dogs that spoke my language I could enjoy it or at least answer your question a bit better.
Conversation between people is just a lot of noise to a dog.
I had to go to school for a long time to learn about 40 words in your oral language.
On the other hand we dogs use body language together with our noses to figure out what is good to follow.
You say this was a horror movie. Does your dog find it horrible to see a creature that looks like him but he cannot feel, or smell, or even chase? He may wonder if screen-dog is dead! Could he be trying to raise him from the dead?
Now that is something to bark about!
Dear Dekker,
I recently lost my job and had to give up my apartment.
I am currently living out of my car and may have to move to
a shelter soon. I am a good person. I served in the
navy and even played in a small dance band. But people see my unshaven
face and tattered clothes and turn their backs. They treat a dog better than
I am treated. I wish I were a dog.
Any advice for me?
Thank you. Dan.
Woof Dan, woof woof. We can only be who we are.
I was born with ‘papers’, whatever that means. I do not see myself any different from my friend, a ‘curbstone terrier’ who eats what he can find…anywhere.
I notice people are different, though. Those who are born with ‘papers’ seem to feel they are a different species altogether.
I always feel sad and confused when someone leaves a fuzzy warm loving pooch at the shelter for any reason. They don’t see past the scruffiness to see the loving heart of a shelter pooch. I have seen people miss the loving hearts of shelter people too.
I don’t have a lot of advice except not to bite the hand of anyone who offers you food! And watch for that special someone who can see past your scruffiness into your heart.
There are people out there who need what you have to offer, even if it is just to sit beside them and listen. Be ready when they find you.
In the meantime, get to know your shelter mates and play them a tune. Your love of music cannot be lost but it can be shared.
Click here to read more Dekker wisdom or to learn more about this amazing service dog. DEKKER’S PAGE.
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