The Diary of a thinking doG

Yesterday I went with my mom and dad to the restaurant.
It was cool because dogs were allowed in there. It was an ancient Italian style mansion with oil paintings on the walls and old copper pots hanging from the top of the ceiling.
They seated us at the end of the room next to the fireplace made of bricks.
The atmosphere was nice, quaint and warm. Good food was coming out of the kitchen and I tell you what, I had a hard time watching all those people eating with pleasure, savoring their home made- with love- pasta with black truffles and filet mignons while I was wondering what was going to be coming out next.
I sure did not miss my croquettes!!
Every now and then my mom was giving me a bite of her food, boy did that taste delicious!!
People were smiling at me and an elegantly dressed elder lady came to say " Ciao".
She had beautiful, deep blue eyes, with a touch of sadness in it.
Her hands were gently petting me while she was talking with a familiar voice.
For some reasons she started telling her life's story. She said I reminded her of her best friend, a loving dog she had at home who was keeping her company while her children seemed to have forgotten about her.
She had spent all of her life giving them an opportunity to study and offering them the best she could.
They all had achieved their goals and landed a good career up to their expectations.
She did many sacrifices through the years to make this happen and now that she was old everybody had left her behind. Somehow this thought reminded me of my siblings at the shelter....and all of the other creatures that are labelled or left behind in our modern society ( homeless people/ disable people/ elders....).
The only reason and motive of joy in her days was now her beloved dog and a cat.
They were her devoted companions, her loyal friend...they were all of her life, the only family she had left to stand near her through good and bad times.
A tear came to her eyes. I knew I had to do something. I looked at her and gently left my paw on her legs, leaning my head on her side.
Someone once said that we see only with our heart, that the essential is invisible to the eyes.
Her soul was shining of a special light made of generosity and compassion.
I thought her pets were very fortunate to have found their best half, it does not happen every day, it's a true blessing. I know they felt her love and they were sharing with her this unconditional, mutual feeling that is only for those who know how to treasure something unique and beautiful as only real love can be.
With dignity she stood up and after thanking my family for the time shared together she kissed me and said Goodbye.
Her story gave me a lot to think about.
She reminded me of who we are and what we do in life.
She reminded me of something I heard from a woman who has recently passed away at a very young age:
" It's bigger the ingratitude of people than the mercy of God". How true.
Last, but not least: on my way out I had this distinctive thought about how those who are considered somehow to be of less value are left behind in a society that is not capable to understand that by doing that it's ultimately damaging itself.
I know my mom can read my heart.
She looked at me and promised this will not happen to us.
And that she will keep working hard to give a second chance to those who do not have dignity or any voice left. No voice, no choice. We can and will change, one step at the time, that.
My mom does not have the presumption to change the world, but she is aware that with our single positive actions, we can contribute to make the great difference.
She believes in being part of the solution, that good things happen to those who work hard and in good faith.
My mom believes in embracing and respecting diversity.
My mom is an animal rescuer & I am her proud pet partner, her soulmate for life.

The value of a FreedoG

Freedom is a word that is often overused.
Everyone wants to be Free.
Everyone thinks to be free, but really are we indeed?
We spend most of our time being busy at work with people we often do not care to be surrounded by, yet we do not dare to say it....just keep it for yourself.
Once the weekend comes around we give voice to our instinct to get out of the box by going into...another box, just a bigger one: the Mall. We trick ourselves thinking it's fun to do window shopping, or get a taste of free roaming among lights, colors, food and....more people.
We need freedom as we need fresh air to breathe.
But often we do not realize that freedom comes with choices and we are lured by society into a type of life that is all but that. The banks own us, we work to pay bills, we are taken by the daily responsibilities, we tell ourselves we have to do it because "you've got to do what you have got to do", and in the meanwhile life passes by and we do forget about who we are or what we want to become.
We are animals trapped in golden cages.....

Just some thoughts to chew on..........

I have learnt a different appreciation for the value and meaning of freedom after observing my dogs running free.
Freedom is something we take for granted but it's not.
Freedom is something to be treasured.
If I close my eyes and take a deep breath I imagine a past life of old memories, when the sunshine was kissing the waters of the lake near our summer home and in the air i could smell the good reassuring scent of the cake my grandma used to prepare for us kids. I can still see my uncle running down the hills, the olive trees were green and lush in such a beautiful Mediterranean scenario.

No one can savor the taste of freedom better than a child that has not yet grown to face layers and layers of " thinking structures & superstructures" imposed by a society that turns people into somebody that has to fit into something.
In the meanwhile life goes by.

It takes trust in a relationship to let go -and this applies not just to the pet and people partnership-.
The leash represents the umbilical cord between us and our dogs.
They do feel if we are tense or relaxed, if we are fearful of something, stressed or in a happy mode.
A healthy pet-owner partnership presumes that there is a common knowledge of one another and enough trust built into respecting our distances and keeping them balanced.
A good relationship will allow us to feel free to let our dog free in a mutual understanding of what it means to be within each other's reach.
Our dogs can run far in the field but will come back to us in a safe time and distance.
They feel and enjoy in full the possibility to BE.
Freedom is a gift, it's a value to share,  learn, appreciate and live in full.
One day at the time we achieve a new level of knowledge and trust through nourishment and love.

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” 
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” 
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

“People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for...
They don't find it," I answered.
And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..."
Of course," I answered.
And the little prince added, "But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart.” 
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Game time: Pets&People communication.

I was playing with my dogs today. As usual I gave it the opening sign, in our case the common word to get started is " Let's play!!"
At the sound of that single word " play" they all turn around and get excited.
Why?
Well for starters they know something FUN is about to happen.
A healthy, happy, emotionally balanced dog must live as many positive experiences as possible, together with their owners.
It's called a partnership. Pets are family and it's not only important but also beautiful to share joyful moments to treasure in each other's company.
If we associate one word to something fun, if we do it on a regular basis, the every day happy action will become something they acquire as a meaning of joy and good time. This will help them relax, enjoy life and, in case of pets that are presenting signs of stress, it will help them divert their energies and focus on something more pleasurable.
The same thing happens for humans.
If we start practicing positive thinking, if we try to use more happy words, have positive images in our mind & experiences in our lives we will benefit from it.

It's also important at the end of every game time/ interaction with your dogs to give a sign of closure. You can use your hands and say " The end" or " Finished". And then turn around and move away so they will read what your body language is telling them: I am out of this now, we are done for now.

"Happiness starts with a wet nose and ends with a wagging of a tale"