Perspective is very important. How you see things, how you view your world. I notice that the animals like to look at the world right side up, up side down, and sometimes, even sideways. I notice that when I am trying to see something differently, I squint my eyes, and it helps me get a clearer view. I like to get down on a child (or animal) level so I can see things from their perspective. When is the last time you laid in the grass and looked up at the world? Changing how I view things, sitting in a different spot then usual, stopping at the top of the stairs and looking up instead of down, all help me reboot how I see things. Personally, I like a new view every once in a while.
Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, Animal welfare, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, persepective, Pet, pets, postaday
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Louise really likes this yellow toy that she has. It is supposed to be one of those indestructible 2 dog pull things. Anyway, Sofie (who figures out how to eat the strategic stitching on any toy), has weakened the middle so now it is nice and foldable (is that a word?). Lulu decided to take a nice nap on the yellow toy and use it as a pillow. I thought it was cute, so I took a picture. The funny thing is, the next time I looked down, Louise had magically turned into Miss Constance Kitty, and Kitty was asleep in the same place Lulu just was,
Just another dogdaz morning at our house ❤
Tags: Animal welfare, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
Just another DogDaz morning at my house ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, animals, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogDaz, Dogs, Life Lessons, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Somedays, it just makes sense to roll.
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Lil’ Sofie Bear loves to roll. She rolls on toys. She rolls on grass spots. She really really really likes to roll in ivy beds or pachysandra. When she has done something she shouldn’t and knows that I am going to yell at her, she rolls. When she wants to stop me from going out the front door, or even from getting dressed from my work clothes closet, she rolls on top of my feet. I personally used to be better at rolling but, as I got older, rolling both physically and mentally just gets harder and harder. Lately I have been getting down on the floor with the dogs and letting them roll on me and with me (Lulu likes to roll too, but only at home). Getting on the floor is a challenge for me (because it is hard to get up), so though it may seem like a simple activity, it is actually a stretch. And, because the dogs both want to be on me at the same time when I am sitting on the floor, it gets kind of crazy; but, they roll and I scratch bellies.
To me rolling is a form of letting go: not getting caught up in the ‘should of’ or ‘could of’ of the event and just going straight to the ‘OK.’ Sofie reminds me that rolling with things can be very freeing and healthy mental and physical exercise. So next time you want to regain perspective – get down with the dogs and roll.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, pets, postaday, rolling
I am immobilized by my animals when I am working. I have a rolling chair at my desk. Both Sofie and Louise like to lie as close to me as possible, so, as you can see from the pictures (which were taken yesterday), one is on one side of the chair and one is on the other.
If I move even the slightest bit I will end up running over one or the other of the dogs. This is a conundrum that happens a lot around here. I do not realize that they have settled in and fallen asleep like his until, it is too late.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, Pet, pets, postaday
My mother’s birthday was April 1st. They call it April Fools day in many countries around the world, My mother was no fool, but the earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer‘s Canterbury Tales (1392) (so says Wikipedia). My mother loved Chaucer and Shakespeare, and used to recite lines from his plays to us all the time… “All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women are merely players….”
Being Silly
I am not a prankish person. I don’t find slapstick or sophomoric comedy funny. But, I think I am in the minority. Even the animals seem to prank each other. I have watched Louise pretend that she was going to give something to Sofie (like a ring or pull toy) only to yank it away at the last moment. I don’t think animals feel ‘foolish’ though. I think that is a human thing. I have never seen one of my zoo blush (can animals really get red in the face?) or get embarrassed. They just laugh and move on. I love that animals live so in the moment. I assume that is why they don’t get pranked, because they don’t worry about how they appear to others and just take the moment for what it is.
Happy birthday, Mom. You would have been 89 today. You would really have liked the dogs. Say hi to Dad for me.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, April Fools Day, Canterbury Tales, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, Dogs, funny dogs, pets, postaday, Pranks
Mommy - are you done yet?
Do you ever wonder why children and pets hate when you are in the bathroom with out them? I was going to take a shower. As you can see 3 of the pitiful zoo creatures were camped outside my bathroom door.
Nine and I will just lie on your PJs
Silly me, I let them in.
Can I jump into the bathtub with you, Mom?
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Nine likes to eat the plants (and so does Sofie when she can) – so when you get out of the bath or the shower, you are lucky if you do not step in dirt with you clean feet. Hahahaha. Silly goofies! They just want to be wherever I am. But, just when you are finally settled and soaking nicely in the tub, someone wants to leave. Oh my – now you know I am not getting out to open the door.
Nine & I want to leave now can you open the door plz?
It does get kind of embarrassing when people come to visit us because my house is old and the doors do not close well and the animals all like to barge in on anyone sitting in the bathroom. I try to discourage that behavior but we do not get many visitors…. Oh…. maybe that is why?…. Just realized that.
The dogs and cats all like to lick the water from the shower basin (that is probably bad, right?). What’s a PetMom to do? It keeps them busy and I can keep an eye on most of them.
Excuse me visitor, but why are you sitting there?
Can we jump on you?
Just another DogDaz morning at our house ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, Bathroom, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday
fastcompany:
These are some of my favorite images from the new book Soldier Dogs. There are more pictures in our slideshow today.
Military Working Dogs play a crucial part in America’s armed services. The best known “Soldier Dog,” Cairo, put crucial canine skills to work in the SEAL Team Six operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. Other Military Working Dogs serve as everything from bomb sniffers to troop companions to search and rescue dogs (and also serve in darker roles, such as duty at Guantanamo Bay). Their handlers and trainers, devoted dog lovers down to a man, form an unusually close-knit fraternity within the military.
Soldier Dogs: The Four-Legged Heroes Of Iraq And Afghanistan
Tags: animal awareness, animals, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, pets, postaday, working dogs
It's time to go 'nite nite'
It’s time to go “nite- nite,” but where is Sofie? Louise is already in bed fast asleep. Sofie is hiding (or so she thinks) under the curtains. She was actually in her kennel a moment ago, but I turned around to do something and she decided to go hide. It is not that she does not like her Kennel, it is all about being able to decide whether she is going to do what she is told. Ah, the endless power struggles with this little one. Finally, I actually got her on her feet and gave her no option, so she reluctantly went in. We go through this almost every night lately. I do find it funny because it reminds me of when the kids were little and they would say, “Just one more story, or one more song! PLEASEEEEEEE!”
Mommy won't see me if I hide under the bedroom curtain. I am so smart!
I can hear Lil’ Sofie in my head saying “Do i really have to go “Nite-Nite” Mom? Could you leave the curtain up just a little so that I can make sure you are still near by? Could you turn on the TV so I can hear some music? Can I have another drink of water? Lulu is such a goodie-goodie – I want to play some more! Please, Please, Please… “ You have to love these little ones because they are such a joy.
Just another dogdaz evening at our house ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, funny dogs, nature, pets, postaday
Perspective is very important. How you see things, how you view your world. I notice that the animals like to look at the world right side up, up side down, and sometimes, even sideways. I notice that when I am trying to see something differently, I squint my eyes, and it helps me get a clearer view. I like to get down on a child (or animal) level so I can see things from their perspective. When is the last time you laid in the grass and looked up at the world? Changing how I view things, sitting in a different spot then usual, stopping at the top of the stairs and looking up instead of down, all help me reboot how I see things. Personally, I like a new view every once in a while.
