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Lessons Learned from My Dog
Seven years ago, while hunting in a very remote area, I found a puppy. Really, he found me. I was walking down a trail, turned around and he was following me. He was in bad shape. He was malnourished and had a festering wound on his head. He looked at me with sad eyes and gave me no choice but to bring him home.
Buddy is the kind of dog that everybody likes. He is a people magnet. Everyone that sees him wants to stoop down and pet him. My wife and I have joked that we should rent him out to people who are looking to meet other people. Take him for a walk down the walking trail in the park and you are guaranteed to have people come up and talk to you with smiles on their faces. Forget internet dating services, just take Buddy for a walk.
What is it that makes people like Buddy so much? Simply this: he walks around with his tail up and waging all the time. His open display of happiness makes others happy.
So, if you want people to like you, and to be friendly to you, hold your tail up proud and high, and wag it. If you do that, you will always be surrounded by happy people.
Published in General
I’ve tried that, but people look at me funny.
He didn’t say hold up your middle finger.
Well, I have to do something in place of a real tail that sticks up.
“If.”
Dang furries.
I’ve seen a bumper sticker:
Buddy is also lucky that you came by – paging @kentforrester
This reminds me of an interaction my husband and I had a few years ago. We were in a neighboring town going into a coffee shop, and out came a former co-worker of my husband’s. I had never met him, but recognized the name. I remembered that my husband had said he was something of a grouchbag. I also remembered that he had lived in our little town for a while despite working in Minneapolis, an hour and a half away, because he loved to fish (we are on Lake Pepin, a natural widening in the Mississippi River). At some point in the conversation, I asked him how he had liked living in our town, and he went off on a rant about how unfriendly everyone was; how if you weren’t born there, you didn’t belong; that you couldn’t pay him to live there. I was rather taken aback — our experience was completely different! The obvious lesson to be learned? Don’t be a grouchbag. I have no doubt he was an unpleasant, negative, downer kind of a neighbor to have. No wonder he got the reception he did.
I love happy dog stories – bless you for your kindness in rescuing Buddy!
Having written that post this morning, I have tried especially hard to keep my tail wagging all day. I have to admit, when one particular coworker walked into my office, my tail immediately drooped. I had to force myself to lift it back up. It seemed to work. The encounter was pleasant and unusually painless.
You mean, like a skunk?
The co-worker backed away to avoid getting sprayed?
Heavens, yes. Reminds me how once on the BBC show “The Detectorists” there was a low point, at a metal detectorists’ club meeting. Sheila, the daffy wife of the club president, tried to cheer everyone up with “Let’s all take off our grouchy pants”.
I suspect Buddy was grouchbag in His previous Home. That’s why He now…
Buddy learned a valuable lesson called gratitude.
Now that is a great show!
Twenty years or so ago I was strolling around the local dog show very early on a Saturday morning when I stopped to watch a group of Border Collies. Out of the eight to ten contestants working the floor, one…with his tail held happy and high…stood out (to this novice) clearly as the best dog out there. I said something to that effect to the much more informed stranger next to me and he replied approximately, “Won’t win, holds his tail too gaily.”
He didn’t but he was still the best dog out there.
My late chocolate lab Hank had such a tail. He sure wasn’t perfect, and had his moments in his early years, but he turned into a damn good dog, too.
I “rescued” a Springer Spaniel about 20 years ago. He was about a year old when we got him. We had him 14 years before having to put him down. I don’t think there was ever a day where I didn’t feel like that dog wasn’t grateful for our bringing him home. He was a terrific companion and I still miss him now. Dogs are angels with fur.
Ah! You are a discerning individual with excellent taste; that’s just a marvelous little series.
Isn’t it? We’ve watched the whole series through about four times, and are waiting with eagerness for season three.
I had a Beagle like that! Even though he’s been gone for a few years he still brings a smile to my face when I think him Nice legacy!
Season 3 was the best, in the opinion of us two fans.
Brief PS:
Re “why does my friend Painter Jean have to wait?” I called in my Tech person and she explained patiently that we subscribed, No, really, She subscribed, to one of those things that you pay somebody a lot of money and get to see BBC stuff sooner even though you are both Americans. I think it is Googazon or Flixnuts or something like that, or maybe it’s Cable. I’m a little unclear on the details.
Now that I read that back, I realize I should explain, because I do have an Electrical Engineering Degree. Or at least I did when we were packing to move into our current house in the 80’s, and it’s down there somewhere, I can practically guarantee you. But when this new TV technology like UHF started, I sort of lost touch.
Anyway, do you remember what Andy said about turning on the TV, and Becky? (That would read a little cleaner if I said “about Becky, and turning on the TV”, but you know what I was saying) That’s me and my wife. We literally have three remotes, just like them
Or was that in Season 3? If so, SORRY! Just forget all about it.
My, my, my.
Thanks for the recommendation. We’re looking for something lighthearted to watch.
PS – We get it through a subscription to Acorn – $6/mth.