Dog-to-Dog Advice for Keeping Your Person Healthy

These humans just think they have to do everything! But that's just not possible. Nobody's the best at everything!

We dogs can set a healthy example. See, I'm real good at coming up with healthy ideas, but not that good of a typer. So I tell my person what to say and she types it in. I do what I'm good at and delegate the rest.

I'm also very good at supervising projects. My person thought we should put in some new garden beds this year so we can grow lots of fresh vegetables. Well, you can see in the picture that she put me in charge of supervising things while she did all the actual work. This is what I'm good at. See? And she did a fine job of building all those new beds under my watchful eye.

Is your person like mine? She spends hours and hours in front of her little typing machine. Talk about boring!

She also does her "big important work" with all the "important people" that come over. Ok, I kinda like that because sometimes they play with me or scratch behind my ears while they're waiting. But overall it's still pretty boring while they do all that "important work."

Here's the thing. Sure it's boring for me. But it's not so great for her, either, to sit around like that for hours on end. Sometimes she gets real tired and kinda stressed-like.

That's when I know it's time for a break! (To get rid of her stress. You know...)

So I come up and get her attention and we go out on a walk. I have to say she likes the walks, too. So unless she's really, really stressed-like it works out ok.

Did I mention that the vet people were happy with the number they said when they put me on the weighing machine last week? And I heard my person say she was doing ok on her weighing machine, too. I think it's because of the good exercise we get on our walks.

I'll have to admit it. Our people do put a lot of time and energy into their "big important work." They seem so tired when they stop by to see my person. And some days, she seems kinda tired, too.

Don't tell her I let on this sorta private thing, but sometimes she stays up pretty late on her typing machine. When she does, then she's just a big sleepy-head in the morning. Any other sensible person (or dog) would be getting up and outside to see what all those birds in the yard are up to!

Anyway, we dogs can really, really help out here. We gotta get them taking naps. More naps, better naps, longer naps.

This is another case where we can lead by example. See, here I am in the picture taking a nap in her office. Yep, that couch is right behind her desk!

Oh yeah. And if that doesn't work, then here's something else you can try:

They really like hanging out together and getting cozy. Like after supper when they're sitting down with you on the couch for "just a few minutes." First, you get in their lap. Then you just do the nappy-time thing. Try a delicate little snore if you can. Trust me, you'll have 'em with this one!

Yeah, you know what I mean. They put our food in our dish. And then they put all the good stuff in their dish and try to make off with it.

Ha!

They'll get fat and sassy on that good stuff if they hoard it all for themselves. It's our dogly duty to make sure they don't get it all.

So sometimes they're all like, "Hey, Max, this stuff really isn't very good for dogs." (You notice they never say that about the carrots or broccoli.)

Right. Like we're going to fall for that one! If it isn't really all that good for dogs, then why are they trying to eat it? Is it really all that good for people?

Nope. They gotta share. Especially the cookies.

It's a terrible burden for our human companions to bear, believing that they alone must be responsible for consuming all the food on their plates. We dogs can lighten their load. Appeal to their vanity if you must. Remind them of the cute jeans in their closet. They will thank you later, when the jeans still fit.

This is your most important mission. You must succeed!

Important! (My person made me put this in.) There are certain things our people often put in their cookies that really are very bad for dogs. They are called chocolate and raisins. Please avoid them, or you won't feel good and then you won't be able to do all the cool stuff you and your people like to do together. To be safe, have your person find a good dog treat recipe and make you some cookies of your own. (They won't mind. You're the dog, remember?)

Our people sometimes do dumb things, don't they? Maybe they'll make a mistake, or say something silly, or just get scared (like we do ourselves) and act funny. Well, so what? They're still our people!

Strange thing is that when this happens, sometimes their so-called human "friends" don't treat them so well. "I don't like you anymore," they might say. Or "You're just a big ninny!" Or "You're too boring to hang around with." They call one another names (in their own head, if not out loud) and then they leave. Just because of some silly little mistake!

Isn't that kinda dumb?

I mean, your person is still the same person after the mistake that they were before. So what's the big problem?

Stand by your person!

The big-wig humans have a fancy-pants name for this. They call it "unconditional love." Well, whatever they want to call it is ok with me.

I'm standing by my person. You stand by yours. Ok?

Remember, we're DOGS!

By the way, you see that picture? That's me and my person and my grandperson at a place called "Peace Garden." Cool, huh?

Hi. This is Max's person, Elizabeth. He was nice enough to allow me a couple of paragraphs on his lovely page.

Pets really can play an important role in human health, offering physical, psychological, and social benefits to those who enjoy their company.

Speaking for myself, I can definitely say I've met a lot more of my neighbors since Max and I began taking our walks together. He's never shy about saying "hi" to the new folks we meet!

Max is also the chief greeter for the people who frequent my bodywork practice. It's not at all unusual for me to come out into the lobby and find Max sitting on someone's lap, both of them beaming contentedly. (He's a lap-sized dog of about 10 pounds.) Max knows he has an important job to do, which I happen to think is also valuable for him.

To explore scientific research on the health benefits of pets and their people, check out the Delta Society website. The American Veterinary Medical Association is another helpful resource.