I was lightly napping on a beautiful afternoon. I was sleeping, but not in a deep sleep I usually reside in during my rest. I felt something pressing on my mind. At first, it was very lightly emanating my thoughts, then gradually increasing until I no longer was napping. I rapidly moved back into the conscious world. I slowly opened my sleep-encrusted eyes and realized I was being influenced by my two dogs, that are professional practitioners of “Canine Hypno-Control.”
C.H.C. “Canine Hypno-Control” is a powerful tool many dogs use to achieve their goals. They focus on the human pineal gland. For example, no dog owner can resist C.H.C. if you eat popcorn on your couch. The intense staring from their pleading eyes making the owner very uncomfortable, moving to anxiety, frustration, and finally, a complete breakdown and giving their canine friends some popcorn. Of course, watching the delight as they gobble up their treat creates a positive feeling and a smile from their owner, reinforcing the C.H.C. behavior.
In my case, I looked outside, it was sunny, and the temperature was near 50 degrees. Next, one of my dogs jumped up on my lap and nuzzled my neck with his cold black nose. Learned behavior used to initiate on my part. Tails wagging, heads bobbing, I identified that they wanted to go for a walk.
We have ground rules for my dogs, no begging at the table. It’s off-limits to use C.H.C. while we are dining! Most of the time, they honor this rule. One of my dogs tries a workaround; she quietly walks up and gently places her head on my knee. She remains quiet, with no pawing, no movement. She just wants to let me know that she is there! Another rule is that we do not feed the dogs at the table. We do not feed them leftovers except for unsalted vegetables and maybe a scrap of unsalted meat.
I checked my weather app on my smartphone to see the temperature outside. It was a balmy 50 degrees, the perfect walking temperature. I relented, “Who wants to go for a walk?” This resulted in a flurry of excitement, dog dancing, and happy guttural verbalization!
I changed into my walking outfit designed for 50 degrees selected my walking shoes, coat, and hat, and of course, doggie reward treats. I bring a leash, but I walk them off-leash in the winter. It saves a lot of pulling on my hand and arm. I have them trained to come to me and sit on command if a car comes by or someone I don’t know is walking. I ask if they like petting dogs. If not, they sit and wait.
After a nice mile-and-a-half walk, we get home. They drink a lot of water and settle in for a nice rest. They are “Dog Tired!” It seems like a good time for me to take a nap! My dogs enhance my life with their antics, snuggling, and relationships. Yes, they are a lot of work, but almost everything worthwhile is worth the effort.
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 03/18/2023 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
