I have become a regular participant in the monthly What I Learned From....writing projects over at Middle Zone Musings. Thank you Robert Hruzek for this months theme:  What I Learned from Animals, and again for the dual opportunity over at High Callings - hello again Marcus!

Would you agree that the idea of a dog, all cute, fluffy and irresistable is probably way different than the reality of one? Would that parallel babies too. Babies are adorable, yet they poop, smear mush all over things, cry alot and stay up at the wrong time. The reality of which most parents say to themselves - I signed on for this ?  Forever?

Growing up we attempted dog ownership. I remember two, one was a fleeting dog moment, a beagle of some sort that came and went so fast. One day the puppy was in our kitchen, days later it was gone! I never knew why. 

Kelly our welsh terrior was a wonderful dog, but the neighbor boy terrorized it whenever the dog was in our yard, so Kelly became an escape artist. We never walked that dog, now that I think about it - I bet all that dog needed was a good walk.  The best memory of Kelly was my mom giving it Baskin Robins Bubble Gum Ice Cream - you know that brilliant pink stuff? Our dog would actually seperate the gum pieces and chew the gum. With her mustache type face it was absolutely hystarical. Why on earth my mom would give that dog ice cream is beyond me. Kelly ended up on an awesome dog farm with 16 foot fences.


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My summer after freshman year in college I worked at Lazy K Bar Ranchin Tuscon Arizona. There was this wonderful opportunity to own a dog. Mind you at 18 my only motivation was simply how irresistable the puppies were. It never occurred to me to ask the ranch folks, could I have, keep, manage or own a dog here. I also didn't really think about the fact that I worked 6 million hours a day.  This dog was a puppy german shepard. It's fur, mostly black was the softest fluffiest most adorable plush pup I had ever seen. I had to have her. With no experience in dog ownership I brought her to the ranch. I named her OSA, which is spanish for baby bear or something like that - c'mon don't ask me to really remember - this was 1979 already - and brought her into my double wide trailer. I lived at the time with 2 teen girls from sweden and the wierdest woman ever. 

Osa was a little dense. When I took her out to pee she'd mimic the boy dogs and lift her leg. When she did that she'd get pee all down her leg. Swear to god, I had to teach that dog to squat. 

When she ate, all the food had to be out of the bowl.  I should have poured it on the floor to save all of us the production of her getting it out of the bowl. It was as if it infuriated her

I was told she needed deworming - we did it ourself in the ranchy kindof way. I left her in the trailer that day and her tooth caught on a thread of the repulsive aqua shag carpet we had - can you say nightmare? That dog in one day basically unwove the entire trailer's carpet, and then peed and pooped all over it.  I seem to recall I had the typical indifference of a 19 year old. UH - I didn't do anything. 

The details of the rest of this are fuzzy but somehow I shipped this dog back home to Chicago. Like on a plane. I then just sortof slipped the dog into the back yard to see if anyone would notice.  Oh the antics of a teenager. Osa was truly and still adorable, however my mom about flipped her lid.  The dog had to go. Osa was shipped back to Arizona and to a very lovely home thanks to my friend Heidi who owned 3 horses, 5 cats and 2 other dogs already.  To Osa's dying day she lived and was loved by this family.

Heidi would walk all the dogs in the foothills, and Osa would run all the way back so she could dive into the pool, none of the other dogs did this - it was her particular expression! 



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It wasn't until many years later that I attempted dog ownership again. Many of you have heard some of my Marble stories here at Best of Mother Earth.

I would say the difference this time is this dog and I needed each other.  She didn't know how to be a dog, meaning she never met another dog or another human for almost 2 years - she was never socialized - she was crate kept. I didn't know how to be a dog owner, meaning it was way different than raising my kids. Believe me the same instincts didn't work. I also needed to find out why this dog came into my world when she did, and what is it she was going to teach me

As I am edging my way to an empty nest,a few have told me that I am an absolute fool for getting a dog, another layer of responsibilty.  "you just gave 25 yrs of your life to raising children - why would you get a dog now? " In the beginning, I thought the same thing - what am I getting myself into?  Yet now that she is secure and ever so happy, and now that I know a little bit more about what to do. I can't imagine my life without her.

If you are not a dog person, which I can't say I was until after having her, you probably can't relate to the look a dog gives you that is total and unconditional love. They adore you. I have of course heard this but now I know it. When you come home they are truly happy happy happy to see you.

Is walking her twice a day a drag? Sometimes I might think that in anticipating of having to do it - but I tell you once I am out walking her - I am forever grateful.

What have I learned from dogs? That you need to be prepared to care for them properly. As a teen it wasn't a good idea to get a dog. Osa was really a stupid dog - I have yet to see another female dog that needed to be taught how to pee.  It might be amusing to watch a dog chew bubble gum - but stick to dog food - it's probably better for the dog. That helping a dog in crisis, that needs to feel stable and cared for is very rewarding. I can't tell you how far she has come since we brought her here.  It's absolutely OK to fall completely in love with your dog. I did and I have no regrets. Companionship comes in many forms - a dog is really their owner's very best friend. Language is really very universal, it's uncanny to me how animals let you know exactly what it is that they need. I now speak a new language. It's called dog! For those who speak dog - a WOOF-WOOF to you too!


marble - streeeeetches, iare you a paw affectionado? They get me every time 

Karen Hanrahan ~ Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant/Blog Publisher
708.482.0678 ~ Websites: Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Green Clean