Articles About Dogs

Present Moment Awareness: Lessons From My Dog

I've always waited for the perfect moment to be happy: As though time were a flower waiting to bloom. My scruffy puppy-happy senior dog knows better. Watching his tail wag as he stands in the middle of a mud puddle, I now understand that happiness is where your heart is, not just where your legs travel.

Last summer we moved into the house of our dreams: Beautiful, big and by a football-sized off-leash dog park. Finally a chance for my Border collie cross, Tucker, to exercise his herding instincts by running ahead of me across an expansive field. Yet it didn't work out that way.

Whoever wrote "every dog has his day" must have seen my dog stretching into sunset at the dog park. He was happy. I was happy. It didn't last. Things appeared fine at first as Tucker romped and ran, sniffed roaming canine rumps and rested. Soon however, rest took precedence. Running slowed to a dawdle and Tucker's yearn to exert fell to panting apathy. He was exhausted. I was scared. I understand that as dogs age they prefer rest rather than racing, but this wasn't it. Something was wrong.

Only 8 months after Tucker and I arrived at his doggy mecca, his health required that we visit his most dreaded destination: The vet. Dogs don't like vets. Every time you take a dog to the vet it's like taking a child to the dentist without the lure of the lollipop that follows. Tucker was not happy. He wriggled on the table as the doggie doctor poked, prodded and became the stuff of doggy nightmares. Yet there was something for Tucker to be thankful for; he could hear neither the diagnosis nor prognosis. Apparently Tucker has a disk in his spine that was slowly crumbling, making it increasingly harder for him to romp. No more running. No more leaping to fetch a stick mid-air. His days of glory spent embracing that part of him that's Border collie frantic are over. Forever.

At first I cried. I was angry. I wanted our time at the dog park to last forever. Now all that will last is its memory. Yet this has taught me a valuable lesson: Happiness does not happen on a schedule. I missed many potential happy hours by staring resentfully at my tiny back yard instead of throwing a ball across it. Now I'd give anything to watch Tucker run around the corners of that worn wooden fence. But he can't run. Not far. Not often. Not anymore.

Yet today we're happy. As cheeky as it is to speak for my dog, I believe he doesn't miss his fleet feet and agility. How do I know? His tail and ears bear witness. The grass is still soft and the frayed stick still magnificent in its resistance. Age doesn't change this. Health doesn't change this. The only thing that changes this is attitude.

My dog is getting older. One day, maybe soon, I will only stroke his smiling face through the lens of a photo frame. But today as I pat him, smell his earthy odor and hear the occasional jingle of his dog collar, I can't help but smile. I've waited a long time for an excuse to be happy. Tucker wags his tail like a rapid pendulum as I offer him a rejected section of toast. He savors it like steak.

Sometimes I wish I were as smart as my dog.

Galina Pembroke is the publisher and editor of New View online magazine, as well as an internationally published writer. She specializes in health. New View magazine features articles on health, self-help, alternative therapies, spirituality, animal rights and more. Visit us at http://www.nuvunow.ca

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Diagnosing Dog Health Problems at Home
Dogs are no different from humans in the way their bodies respond to disease and changes in their environment When exposed to contaminated food, extreme cold, or infectious disease they can get sick

New Designer Dog Breed - The Roodle
Celebrities like Paris Hilton may carry their dogs in their Gucci handbags, accessorized to the glittering collar. But the recent trend in designer dogs seems to suggest that everyday people are catching this unfortunate trend.

Dog Health - Why Your Dog Needs an Annual Checkup
A once a year visit to the vet is a must for a healthy dog During this annual visit your vet will check your dog's heart rate, overall body health, perform a fecal and blood check to diagnose parasites, and keep your dog up to date on vaccinations

Top Dog Has No Papers - New Trend In Business Clears The Way For Innovative Thinking
How many times have you looked around your office and cringed at all the piles of paperwork? You're not alone, says Barbara Hemphill, author of "Taming the Paper Tiger at Work" and president of Hemphill Productivity Institute. People everywhere—especially top executives and entrepreneurs—are finding themselves bogged down by the clutter that's taken over their desks.

Sarbanes-Oxley and Section 404: Old Dog, New Teeth
The failures we have seen in the quality and integrity of financial reporting in corporate America are clear evidence that something was awry. It is the responsibility of corporate boards, managements, public accounting firms and regulatory agencies to put confidence back into the financial statements issued by our society's most significant entities.

Zoombak Advanced GPS Dog Locators Now Available at More Than 900 PetSmart Locations Nationwide : PetSmart is the First National Pet Retailer to Carr
Furthering its leadership position in the GPS locator market, Zoombak LLC (www.zoombak.com), a Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LCAPA) company, announced today that its Advanced GPS Dog Locator is now available nationwide at PetSmart stores (www.petsmart.com). PetSmart is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. Petsmart is constantly looking for innovative new products that can help pet parents raise healthy, happy pets. In support of this, PetSmart is now carrying the Zoombak Advanced GPS Dog Locator in its network of over ...

What Are the 3 Items You Should Know Before You Put Your dog in Kennel
Are you planning for a family vacation but wondering what to do with your puppy? Should you keep the dog at your friend's place, use bonded pet-sitting service, or put him in a kennel.

Proper Grooming Tips For Your Dog
There are various ways to groom your canine to make him or her look his or her best at all times These grooming tips can clean your dog and make him or her feel great and confident

Christmas Gifts for Pets Purchasing Easy at Petago New Pet Product Site Features Top Quality Dog Gifts
It's Christmas time again already. You're almost done shopping, but wait, you've still got to buy a gift or two for your dog or the dog lover in your family. Petago has made it easy for you with its top ten Christmas gifts for dogs.

Revolutionary Way To Teach Old Dog New Tricks or Teach Your Puppy To Behave
An easy method of training your dog at home without spending lots of money. You do need to hire the services of a professional trainer. Easy to follow step by step training at home to get the best performance out of your best companion.

Dog Products That an Owner Cannot Live Without
When owning a dog, there are certain products that every dog owner needs so that both the owner and the dog are happy It is especially important to purchase these products as soon as you acquire the dog and to keep these things around during the ownership of the dog, which is most likely going to be a long time

Professor's House Brings Years of Expertise to Dog Training
Online advice website leads the way in training your dog without the associated hassle.

Dog Announces $35,000 Donation to Study the Rabies Vaccine
Chiclet T. Dog, canine co-author of the award-winning book 'Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care,' announces a $35,000 matching gift to the Rabies Challenge Fund. The Fund is conducting studies to prove that vaccine immunity persists for at least five years, and maybe as long as seven. Phase Two of the study will investigate vaccine additives called adjuvants and set up a reporting system for adverse reactions.

Do You Have A Dog Allergy?
Runny nose, watery eyes? Sneezing all the time? Do you have a dog allergy? Maybe your best friend is what?s got your allergies going. After all there really is no dog breed that is truly non allergenic because they all produced dander, urine, and saliva.