So it’s Monday. All. Day. Long. One of those times when you can easily believe in the purported accursedness of the day; one unlucky, frustrating, impossible thing after another and not a coffee break in sight. We’ve all had ’em. Rotten, rotten Mondays, no matter what day of the week in reality, are the bane of humankind.
Dogs, however, rarely let a Monday take their essential doggy happiness away. It takes, in fact, quite a lot of horribleness to take the equanimity and enthusiastic canine capering down to a level recognizable as sad, and once cheered up again, dogs are remarkably good at forgiving and forgetting. Barring ill-treatment or illness, every day is the greatest day ever to your average dog.

Why lie around counting the time until your human will take you walking farther, when you can back-scratch your way headfirst right down the hill?
It’s not that dogs are stupid. Far from it; some dogs I’ve known would beat some people I’ve known at any IQ test, and the average dog is a pretty clever problem solver and able to perform all sorts of magnificent deeds, accomplish numerous astounding feats. It’s more that dogs, simply, seem to have a highly developed power for living in the moment, finding the good in the small and ordinary and letting unpleasantness drift past them as quickly as the turning of the world will allow. They’re not much on sulking, self-pity, or wallowing and very rarely hold grudges–and these, as far as I’ve seen, only when pressed to it by persons or events truly deserving of their scorn.
What dogs seem to hold among their many fine and useful instincts is the one that tells one to be thrilled when a maple seed helicopters out of a tree in his path, to slurp lustily at a handy puddle of water when thirsty, and to leap into the air rather than toddling through the weeds when crossing the parking strip to get to the park for a romp. The wisdom to nuzzle the hand that pets him, to lie like a shaggy, comforting blanket on the cold feet of a human companion when he’s sad and to shoot across the house like water from a fire hose when the other human gets home from her long day at the office. All of this is noble work, and keeping as busy at it as any good dog does makes him far too busy to mope and snarl and bemoan his bad fortune. Even on a typical Monday.
Lock your mate and your dog in the trunk of a car. Come back in three hours and let them out. Who is happy to see you! Gotta love that dog.
Ain’t it the truth! ๐
we have just got back from a weekend of dog sitting and walks. wags all round i say ๐
Indeed, indeed. [Wagging madly back at you.] ๐
Go puppies! Dogs are fabulous animals and unconditionally loyal and all they want in return it love. Couldn’t be better.
Have a beautiful day Kath.
๐ Mandy xo
If I were lost in the cold wilderness and had to choose between a coat and a dog, I know I’d go for the canine companion!
Nicely put! They are the best ๐
I *have* met some people who are as unconditionally loving and happy as dogs, but not as many as you’d think! ๐
We just bought Dug a new ball today and as far as he is concerned, it is the greatest gift ever! (He thinks that every time)
Great post, Kathryn! ๐
I look forward to meeting Dug one of these days! ๐
I envy a dog’s ability to stay focused on the moment. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is an unknown concept to them. As my Dad would say, “Lucky SOB.” ๐
Your dad was clearly a very wise man. After all, he raised *you*!! ๐