Picture by: Body Wise International
It's a Dog's Life
Dog ownership is at an all-time high. According to the American Pet Products Association, there are close to 90 million dogs in the United States. And, over one-third of dog households have more than one. Dogs provide companionship and joy to both young and old. Being a past dog owner has given me an opportunity to make some observations. I thought my reflections about a dog’s life would be appropriate for everyone to ponder this week:
- Dogs never pass up the opportunity to go for a walk.
- Dogs love to ride in the car and experience fresh air and the wind in their faces.
- Dogs stretch before they rise from sleep.
- Dogs take naps.
- Dogs romp and play daily.
- Dogs drink a lot of water.
- Dogs (many) are not allowed junk food (i.e., table scraps) and enjoy eating specialized, healthy dog food.
- Dogs dance around and wag their entire body when they are happy or excited.
- Dogs eat with gusto, and stop when they’ve had enough.
- Dogs run to the door to greet loved ones when they come home.
- Dogs get regular check-ups from their doctors.
- Dogs realize when they are tired at night and therefore go to bed.
- Dogs thrive on building loving relationships rather than accumulating material things.
Sounds like a pretty healthy lifestyle, don’t you think?
I think one of the best habits that we can learn from a dog is this:
- When you know someone is having a bad day… sit close by…be silent… and nuzzle them gently.
Perhaps we can learn something from a dog’s life!
Your Partner in Family Medicine