You know you are a dog lover when

• Dog hairs cover everything you own. 
• Whenever you reach into a pocket you pull a poop bag (regardless of what you were looking for). 
• You're up early (6 am) despite that you are tired (even exhausted).
• Your car windows are covered with nose prints.
• You sign your dog's name on birthday and holiday cards.
• You have no kids, but you refer to self and spouse as daddy and mommy while to your own parents as grandma and grandpa.
• You don't need a door bell. 
• You feel too guilty to ever imagine taking a trip (especially abroad). 
• Whenever you shop, you manage to buy something for your dog. 

Understanding our dog

My dog and I understand each other. I respect that he needs to exercise a lot; walk at least 2-3 hours a day. So days, I am busy, we get up at 6 am and we go for our morning walk of an hour to an hour and a half, then I rush home midday for our second one hour walk before going to work. After work, depending on the season, we may do a brief 20 minutes walk or if light out may go back to a park for an hour walk.  Curl gets at least 2 hours walk a day. On days, I am free, we spend most day out walking, playing, spending time together. This week, we had the luxury to enjoy the weather, tuesday we covered 10 miles walking, wednesday we went running together, while thursday we walked 5 miles. Yesterday, we walked 7 miles and he went swimming. Curl loves water, he could be a lab, though it means I will have to bath him, I respect his needs. If he likes it and it makes him happy while being healthy (good on his joints, refreshing, keeping him cool as it's hot out) then I let him do it. He's happy then I am happy. In some ways, this is how we bond. I have a happy dog who loves me and knows I love him.

How much is enough?

For the past few days, I got to think about how much exercise or walk a dog needs. First, I believe it varies for dogs, some are fine with a 30 minutes daily walk while others like mine requires a lot more. Curley is a Jack Russell terrier, needs lot of exercise. As his care giver I assume the responsibility: I get up most days at 6 am just to start his day with an hour long walk. Does it make a difference? Absolutely, I don't have to feel guilty for leaving him or worry that he is bored. He is often just tired and ready to digest his breakfast and take nap (really he is just recharging his battery). By mid-day, we often go for our second long walk (an hour). I admit that he is lucky but at the same time he is really just getting his basic need met. We enjoy a third walk in late afternoon, sometime it is shorter as it gets dark sooner (longer in summer, an hour).

Some of our walk are just relaxing walk where he gets to explore or simply carries a stick as we follow a path. Others are more instructive (do drills). For example, I may turn around and see that he pays attention which way I am going or I may on and off call him when off leash to come and sit (practice commands) before I tell him to go play. In other words, I try to make him do some mental work not just physical. Another type of walk I do once in a great while is what I refer as one-on-one. I will bring one of his favorite "squeaky" ball and toss it to him throughout our walk. I may also try to induce him to cover more distance, by faking a throw and as he goes further ahead on path, I will squeak the ball to get his attention and then throw it behind me (other direction). He is definitely forced to be mentally focused on these walks while having fun (he loves to fetch).

The more exercise he gets definitely tires him out though there are times that he remains true to his breed and isn't much tired at all. He is ready to fetch once home (high energy).

Benefits of ensuring he gets enough exercise is that I won't worry about him destroying my furniture (at least for that day). These walks certainly help maintain my weight and keep me fit. Also as I don't want to be bored and do circles of my  neighborhood, I will make a point to visit a park, thus breath fresher air (less polluted) increasing my life span. In other words, I benefit from these longer walks, I get mental breaks as I just relax, listen to birds or have time to think by myself, while also doing cardio (exercise- walking) and breathing some better quality air. I should really thank Curley, he is making me a healthier person.

Who is lucky?

Working with rescues, I often hear how lucky one dog is to be adopted, but truly is the dog lucky or are we the lucky ones. I am not going to deny that having a dog or dogs is always easy, it requires responsibilities: walking them (thus getting up early for me-though I don't mind it), training them (takes time)... However, I know Curley is why I get up early in the morning. His love is why I don't ever feel alone. Curley is my family. I feel "lucky" that Curley is in my life. His love is unconditional, so is mine for him. He teaches me everyday about "life". He taught me to appreciate the simple moments in a day, whether it is walking early and hearing the beautiful sound of birds, or simply enjoying having him in my arms. As I observe him, I learn the importance to explore and live in the moment. I am the lucky one, no doubt about it. In many ways, Curley saved me: he taught me to live and love.

I Rescued A Human Today

“Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels.  I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.  I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. 

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage.  I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today.  Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card, I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past.  I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and make little kissy sounds at me.  I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.  Gentle fingertips caressed my neck, she was desperate for companionship.  A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.  I would promise to always be by her side.  I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.  So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. 

So many more to be saved.  At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.”

~~~Author unknown

Quotes

This is one of my favorite pictures. I took this picture last week, it is already framed. Looking for quotes for my last post led me to think about how others describe this special relationship between dogs and humans. (I said dogs first for a reason)


Here are two quotes that I think describes how I think:


"I'm an introvert...I love being by myself, love being outdoors, love taking a long walk with my dogs and looking at the trees,flowers,the sky." 
— Audrey Hepburn

"The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs." 
— Charles de Gaulle


Below are other quotes that I hope you'll enjoy (while make you think- sure make me):

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." 
— Josh Billings

"A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the doo." 
— Jack London

"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." 
— Woodrow Wilson

Books as my friends.

With the reminder of a dear friend, I am obliged to post a list of books I recommend anyone to read:

*for dogs lovers: 

1) White Fang by Jack London

2) The call of the wild by Jack London

These are absolute classics for anyone that loves dogs. It describes perfectly the loyalty of these wonderful creatures while also making us the readers aware of how powerful a bond between man and dog is. 

*for people who wish to get a glimpse of what french culture is like:

1) A year in Provence by Peter Mayle

2) Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle
3) French women don't get fat by Mireille Guiliano

4) French women for all seasons by Mireille Guiliano
5) A lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard 
6) The sweet life in Paris by David Lebovitz

Last I thought I'd share a few quotes about books:

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend."
― Groucho Marx

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” 
― Paul Sweeney

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” 
― Ernest Hemingway

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice


“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot

“Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.” 
― Gustave Flaubert

“I cannot live without books.” 
― Thomas Jefferson

“but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.” 
― Jane Austen