Be the person your Dog thinks you are

It is difficult to think of leaving Bear Creek. It is a good reminder for everything out here and being thankful. Recent travels took me across the country. It takes someone special to travel to the Mid West and leave the beauty of the Gorge. It is a good eye opener in so many ways. Traveling through different airports, changes of climate and terrain to observing the differences of people, lifestyles and attitudes.

My pups would tell you so different that my leaving Bear Creek was not a good thing. Always curious what really goes through the minds of my furry friends.

First the suitcase comes out, so does the distressed pouting and sad faces. The additional shadowing, can't even go to the bathroom without a sidekick. They know something is up, a change in routine. Leaving for the trip with reassurance I will return and a kiss on the nose.....what really is turning inside that doggy doggy mind? A change in routine, the smell of the suitcase and walking out the door, they don't understand how many days or hours you are away? Or do they? While they can't look at a calendar, they seem to count meal times and sleepless nights of snuggles together.

The Urban dictionary definition of "dog"; 1. your best friend. 2. Your companion to lean on. 3. A big fluffy ball of love. 4. Protects you. 5. Loves you the most and would die for you. essentially dog means love. More than just a four legged animal of the canine- wolf family.

Dependable

Trustworthy

Kind

Affectionate

Happy

Fun Loving

Loyal

and the Best friend ever who would never leave your side.

The leaving is such sad sorrows with guilt. But the homecoming is pure joy! Picture 2- 100# fur balls trying to leap over into the front seat of a full size pick up truck at the airport with the sight of their human friend and a greeting of joyful cries and non-stop tongue baths. They are always joyful to see you, whether its a quick trip good bye to the store and more intense hello with extended days away.

We love our dogs and they love us, they have earned the title, "man's best friend".

Research shows that when humans and their dogs maintain eye contact both boost the levels of "love hormone", oxyticin.

We can't 100 % comprehend what our dogs are thinking, but they understand smell, tone of voice, commands and even our emotions. They are highly attuned to how we feel.

So why can't people sometimes act more like our furry friends? Trustworthy, kind, loyal and unconditional? Dogs love it when you cook and don't like it when you yell. Hmm similar to humans, I love it when my hubby cooks or the smell of brownies fill the house, I stress when I am yelled at. Maybe we are a little more similar than some realize.

The nose print of a dog is as unique as a human finger print. And what a nose! They can identify with that nose. Traveling to Indiana, seeing my grand dog, Gibbs....he identifies and recalls who I am with only visiting 2-3 times a year. He smells my luggage and I am sure recalls the scent of my pups who were his puppy hood buddies. I wonder, does Gibbs smell me, Bosco, and Shasta and vision in his mind the Gorge where he grew up?

Dogs have body language just like people. A stance, how the head is held, ears, eyes and tail. Well, most people don't have tails but we can read people by all the same language.

But, why can't more people just be like dogs? Would our world be a better place? So Whether your perfect pet is the working class breed, a hound, terrier, sporting or just a mixed mutt, if we could just measure up to to be the person our dogs sees us as. Then act towards others in this way, the world would be a better place. Afterall, my world is better with my pups in it. So be the person your dog thinks you are to yourself, others and of course to your dog.