I was settled into my “Comfy Chair” for my evening nap, and I looked around on the floor. My eyes gazed at a beautiful sight: tired, sleeping dogs. After a good day of doggie activities, seeing them sleep looking like furry Angels is a comforting sight! This level of Doggie Nirvana sleep does not happen every day. Today was a good day. We started out with an early morning walk; this time of year, the summer heat is just too much for my fur babies. They have thick coats and prefer walking in temperatures ranging from a high of 70°F to a low of 18°F.
I walk my dogs in all types of weather, including snow, rain, ice, and sunny days, but I refrain from walking them during a thunderstorm. Mid-morning was time to play chase the ball. I launched the ball, and the chase was on. So, I sent another to the pup that hadn’t gotten to the ball first, giving them a ball to retrieve. Then, after lunch, take a short walk to aid digestion and prepare for an afternoon nap. Before dinner, I take the youngest for a walk for training purposes, and as luck would have it, one of my neighbors has a pup about the same age time for a Zoomie Fest!
They ran over there, then over here, then around the house, and then around us, repeating as needed. Eventually, they took a break and laid down on the garage floor, begging for water, which was promptly presented to them. We said goodbye to our friends and headed home. Upon arrival home, it was time to walk my other dog, so off we went for a brief trip. As we returned, I noticed that the lawn needed cutting, so I grabbed a couple of rubber balls so my pals would have something to play with. As they sat in the shade and watched me walk the lawnmower, I wondered if they were jealous of me walking the lawnmower?
After that task, it was time to feed the dogs! Several things will result in the dogs running toward me as if they were being chased by the Grim Reaper. The most effective is when I shout out: “Dinner Time!” It’s like a programmed response that takes them away from whatever they are doing, and they turn on the afterburners for dinner time. Addition stimuli that create the same sense of doggie urgency: The ice machine fills up a glass, they think ice is a treat. The opening of a can with the opener, we feed them some green beans and pumpkin for lunch every day, the crackling of a potato chip bag, and, of course, the ever-popular ring of the “Doorbell!” My pups get so excited when someone comes to visit because, of course, they came to see them!
“Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!” is an old saw that means if an old problem is currently causing no problems, leave it alone! In my house, it’s a do not disturb standing order. If a pup falls asleep in your lap, you cannot move until such pup wakes up. I generally adhere to that rule unless I need a bio-break! Even movies have been made about sleeping dogs, such as “Sleeping Dogs” (2024) starring Russell Crowe. “Where Sleeping Dogs Lie” 1991 a psychological thriller, and the 2006 comedy film “Sleeping Dogs Lie.” The only problem I have with these titles is that I have never once heard my dogs lie! They are man’s best friend at times and will not admit to the truth at such times as: “Where did my piece of pizza go?
Dogs sleep between 12 and 14 hours per day; it sounds like my retirement plan!
