Nope. Not herding cats. Training them. Or rather, finding out what they like to do, and then rewarding them for it.
I grew up with dogs and cats together. I can think of three different pairs. They would snuggle together in a sunny spot on the floor on a winter's day. Or cuddle together on the couch. Yes, we did allow our adopted greyhound on the couch.
The most fun was watching these creatures wrestle -- the dog being careful not to overwhelm the cat; and the cat being careful to keep her claws sheathed. Over and over, round and round they'd go.
Cats who perform is a whole different circus. Yet here's a guy who has figured it out. Hope you enjoy their entertainment.
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Jul 7, 2011
Dec 3, 2010
Sometimes you don't know the rest of the story
It was a cold December afternoon as Mom and I drove home from an errand run. Both northbound lanes were stopping and starting erratically. Suddenly the cars in front of us sped away revealing the cause of the slowdown -- a medium-sized, brown dog stood bewildered in the gutter on our side of the highway.
She was stockily built and wore a chain collar dragging a leather leash. You could see at a glance that she had recently had puppies. She had apparently been wandering in the road and the drivers had stopped while she tried to figure out where to go.
“We need to stop,” Mom and I said almost together, pulling into a handy forest preserve parking area. “Father, what is your plan?” I asked, getting out of the car. That quick prayer set the tone for the next five minutes.
I ran along the grassy shoulder after the dog who was already headed south, fortunately still on the side of the highway. “Here Girl!” I called louder and louder till she heard and turned around. She waited. I kept talking to her.
“Thank you, Father, she’s waiting!” I said. She let me pick up the end of her leash, and agreed to step on the grassy shoulder. But she didn’t want to walk in the direction of my car. She felt she needed to go the other way. My mom approached and talked to her. She came with us a few steps and stopped. This girl was too heavy to pick up and carry.
“Father?” I quietly asked. Just then a woman pulled up and rolled down her window. Amazingly, there was almost no traffic behind her, so we could have this conversation.
“Do you need help?” she asked. “I saw the dog in the road and turned around and came back.” I said I wasn’t sure, that the dog didn’t want to come.
Checking for traffic in her rearview mirror, the woman swept clutter off the front passenger seat and said, “See if she’ll get into the car.” This was someone who was familiar with dogs.
I opened the door, patted the seat, and the dog jumped in. “Good girl!” the woman said as I flipped her the leash and closed the door. “Sit,” she said. The dog sat. I waved as she rolled up the window and drove off with the dog on the front seat.
Part of our job was done. The dog out of traffic. This next stranger had appeared and was taking the her on the next part of her journey. The woman could ask any vet to see whether the dog had an identification chip, in which case they could try to contact the owner.
Cynics could offer criticism at this point. But Mom and I had to trust our initial prayer, “Father, what is your plan?” And this was the second part of our job: to continue our prayers for the dog, and to expand them to including all who were homeless, to find their right home. That was perhaps the most important part of the episode.
She was stockily built and wore a chain collar dragging a leather leash. You could see at a glance that she had recently had puppies. She had apparently been wandering in the road and the drivers had stopped while she tried to figure out where to go.
“We need to stop,” Mom and I said almost together, pulling into a handy forest preserve parking area. “Father, what is your plan?” I asked, getting out of the car. That quick prayer set the tone for the next five minutes.
I ran along the grassy shoulder after the dog who was already headed south, fortunately still on the side of the highway. “Here Girl!” I called louder and louder till she heard and turned around. She waited. I kept talking to her.
“Thank you, Father, she’s waiting!” I said. She let me pick up the end of her leash, and agreed to step on the grassy shoulder. But she didn’t want to walk in the direction of my car. She felt she needed to go the other way. My mom approached and talked to her. She came with us a few steps and stopped. This girl was too heavy to pick up and carry.
“Father?” I quietly asked. Just then a woman pulled up and rolled down her window. Amazingly, there was almost no traffic behind her, so we could have this conversation.
“Do you need help?” she asked. “I saw the dog in the road and turned around and came back.” I said I wasn’t sure, that the dog didn’t want to come.
Checking for traffic in her rearview mirror, the woman swept clutter off the front passenger seat and said, “See if she’ll get into the car.” This was someone who was familiar with dogs.
I opened the door, patted the seat, and the dog jumped in. “Good girl!” the woman said as I flipped her the leash and closed the door. “Sit,” she said. The dog sat. I waved as she rolled up the window and drove off with the dog on the front seat.
Part of our job was done. The dog out of traffic. This next stranger had appeared and was taking the her on the next part of her journey. The woman could ask any vet to see whether the dog had an identification chip, in which case they could try to contact the owner.
Cynics could offer criticism at this point. But Mom and I had to trust our initial prayer, “Father, what is your plan?” And this was the second part of our job: to continue our prayers for the dog, and to expand them to including all who were homeless, to find their right home. That was perhaps the most important part of the episode.
Nov 12, 2010
Rules of Life -- as dogs would write them
This delightful text came in a forwarded email -- author unknown.
Live simply.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Smile because you’re happy.
Smile because you’re happy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
 |
| Remember to play! |
Run, romp, and play daily.
Never pass up the opportunity to encourage your friends.
Relish the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face.
When you take a nap, stretch before rising.
Thrive on attention -- giving and receiving -- and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Always be ready to make new friends.
Always be ready to make new friends.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried,
dig until you find it.
Enjoy now!
Jul 1, 2009
Puppies behind bars
This is a win-win program.
The prisoners who train the puppies to be service dogs win, because they rediscover their humanity. They discover love that most of them never knew.
The puppies win because they are cherished companions during their puppyhood, and beloved companions after they graduate. In turn, they save – in the sense of redeeming – lives while they are being trained. Love is surely reflected in love.
The final owners, wounded soldiers, win by having dogs that have been raised and trained with love and dedication. The dogs give the soldiers their lives back. They give families their dads and moms back.
These Oprah interviews with Glen Close are spot-on. You might want to have tissues handy.
Part I
Part II
The prisoners who train the puppies to be service dogs win, because they rediscover their humanity. They discover love that most of them never knew.
The puppies win because they are cherished companions during their puppyhood, and beloved companions after they graduate. In turn, they save – in the sense of redeeming – lives while they are being trained. Love is surely reflected in love.
The final owners, wounded soldiers, win by having dogs that have been raised and trained with love and dedication. The dogs give the soldiers their lives back. They give families their dads and moms back.
These Oprah interviews with Glen Close are spot-on. You might want to have tissues handy.
Part I
Part II
Dec 10, 2008
The real thing - better than experiments
In “Science NOW Daily News,” December 8, an experiment revealed to researchers that domestic dogs, as well as primates, are aware of unfairness. The dogs understood when they both shook paws with their trainer, and only one received a treat, that this was unjust. The unrewarded dog refused to participate in further paw shaking. He was not a happy camper.
To those of us who have been blessed by growing up with pets, what’s startling is that researchers didn’t already know this. When it comes to food, a horse, for example, is not quiet or patient if his buddy gets a scoop of grain, and he doesn’t. Likewise with multiple dogs and cats, you need to feed them at the same time to keep the peace.
Yes, if you have a city dog, you have to walk it; yes, if you have a city cat, you need to clean a litter box. But you are rewarded with basic lessons in common sense, friendship and affection from a creature who doesn’t speak in our words. As you learn to read an animal’s body language, you can relate to him/her on several levels: basic needs, affection, games.
Where is God in all this? I believe God gives us creatures to help us learn compassion and responsibility, and especially to improve our sense of humor.
Here’s a sweet video – one of a series of Nora, who enjoys accompanying kids taking their piano lessons.
To those of us who have been blessed by growing up with pets, what’s startling is that researchers didn’t already know this. When it comes to food, a horse, for example, is not quiet or patient if his buddy gets a scoop of grain, and he doesn’t. Likewise with multiple dogs and cats, you need to feed them at the same time to keep the peace.
Yes, if you have a city dog, you have to walk it; yes, if you have a city cat, you need to clean a litter box. But you are rewarded with basic lessons in common sense, friendship and affection from a creature who doesn’t speak in our words. As you learn to read an animal’s body language, you can relate to him/her on several levels: basic needs, affection, games.
Where is God in all this? I believe God gives us creatures to help us learn compassion and responsibility, and especially to improve our sense of humor.
Here’s a sweet video – one of a series of Nora, who enjoys accompanying kids taking their piano lessons.
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