The Pied Piper

Most of us love dogs and truly believe they are our best buddies. They have survived our bouts of mood swings time-in and time-out. They are not some dimwitted, coldhearted being as we might think; they sure have a lot more soul than most humans. If only they could speak, they would certainly keep us in the loop.

              They live for the moment. Whatever happened to them in the past is oft buried and forgotten. If you happened to scream your head off at your four-legged friend, worry not; the dog does not mind, neither would it talk at or back at you. They do not seem to dwell on history too much; each day is a new beginning. I love that about them—take it as it comes, eh? They do not set sky-rocketing demands like we do; all dogs need is a generous dosage of love, care, attention, and quality time with your family. Sounds familiar?

            It bothers me to think that some of us who cannot manage any of these still choose to keep dogs—for company or a desktop presentation, only heaven knows. What we do not realize is that in this whole deal, it's the dog's life that is being threatened. We don't make time to be with them, and perceive it like more like a curse. Get this: no pain, no gain. You expect a certain behavior from them, let go of a dime of it from your side. And mind you, when you walk your dog, there's a lot happening at the physical and psychological level that is crucial to both your well-being. It's not always about coochicooing your dog; discipline and boundaries play a role as well.
           It's been a month, even more, since my addiction with Cesar Millan's weekly program—Dog Whisperer—based on his disciplinary regime for dealing with difficult dogs. The dogs, the man himself, seem to have rekindled my interest in a lot of things and have enabled me to think out-of-the-box and be open to possibilities. It's totally weird how a dog can make a toy out of its owners; you either give-in to its whims, or what you get is an aggressive demon. But who would have thought it's a matter of having the right psyche. 

            Next time you think of euthanizing your loyal four-legged buddy, know that you might be taking a hasty decision by not allowing your dog and your relationship a chance. Nothing is impossible—there's always light at the end of the tunnel. As Cesar says in his programs, "I rehabilitate dogs, I train humans."

          Keen to know more? Google "Cesar Millan" and/or watch his program on National Geographic. You'll be amazed at the plethora of options life has to offer.

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” 
―J.R.R. Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring