A Few Basic Facts
A lot of people ask questions about what my dogs do at home, whether they can have play time, etc. These are very important questions. Dogs don’t work all the time, just like humans don’t work all the time. Those of us who have spent years of our lives with a working dog need for others to understand that these dogs also play. We also need for people to understand that the safety of these working companions is vital to our safety. If it seems like we limit their freedom by not allowing them to run loose, it is because we need to be aware of their safety and health. Please do not interfere with this process.
People often ask me how long my dogs work. The quick and easy answer is that it depends on the dog. Like people, some dogs are very strong and healthy and can work for a long time. Other dogs have trouble doing this job, and sometimes they need a different job that is less stressful. Sometimes a dog has health problems that keeps her from working, just like a person who gets sick and has to retire so that doctors can help them. So there are lots of things that affect how long a dog can work. I try to do what is best for my dogs and myself when I need to make choices about whether a dog should stop working. Some dogs work for a very long time, even up to ten or eleven years. Some dogs need to stop working early due to medical problems.
A Couple of Questions About Home Life
- Does she have to work at home? Not at all. Dogs love to play at home. I wrote this about Loretta when she was young.
She’s very obnoxious at home and chases the cats, has to remember not to eat their food, etc. When she’s not being obnoxious, she is lazy and has to be reminded to get out of the middle of the floor so that I don’t trip over her. No, I don’t trip because I didn’t see her. It’s my house, and I do know she’s there. But one of the basic laws of physics is that things in motion tend to stay in motion. Just like when a car coming to a stop throws you forward, my body coming to a stop throws me forward–right over that silly dog who thinks she owns the house.
- Does she sleep in the bed with you? Would you let something that big sleep in bed with you??? Ok, maybe that isn’t a fair question. I know lots of people who love to have their dogs sleep in bed with them. I am very picky about my bed. My covers have to be just so, etc. I have my dog and I also have cats, and it’s very important to me that all the animals feel loved just the same. The dog gets to hang out with me when we go out galavanting. She gets all the fun car trips (which cats hate anyway), people looking adoringly at her, extra scratches for doing anything good, etc. She has her own special bed that belongs to only her–and she has the privilege of messing up her covers any way she likes without me straightening them back. I can reach down and pet her anytime, and I do pet her when I wake up in the middle of the night. It is comforting to feel those floppy ears and hear her give a nice, happy sigh. The cats get the privilege of sleeping on the bed with me.