Cats and Dogs.

Every once in a while even a big ole dog lover like myself falls in love with a cat. This is our good friend Camille’s cat, Bud. I love the little guy. He’s 16 . I just wanted to share him with you and give a shout out to my best cat bud, Bud.

Book Ruffview: Your Dog Is Your Mirror

Gotta say, I found this book really interesting. When I saw the title,  I remembered a poem I wrote a while back:

Like a compass true
You reveal to me myself
Each strength, flaw laid bare.
— S. Longo

This book will challenge everything you thought you knew about your dog and their behavior, as well as their relationship with you or should I say your emotions. The concept Author/Dog Trainer Kevin Behan lays out Is that dogs don’t think per se, they feel. That does not mean they are not intelligent, merely that their intelligence is emotional, vibrational, and immediate, not a process that relies on thinking. My last statement is probably way over simplifying things. Behan makes the point that dogs act as emotional batteries and channels, which our unresolved emotions play out through their behaviors. Meaning that their behaviors are working through our unresolved emotions in an attempt to resolve our energy and ground it.

Now this book is not light reading, but it is not a textbook either. Maybe a little of both. There were parts where Behan is laying out his theory where the book gets a little laden with jargon, but I felt the jargon was necessary in order to build his case. You gotta slug through that part a little, but it is not bad, just a little dry. I recommend  setting yourself up with a cup of tea or coffee and grab some alone time as you will find yourself re-reading sentences a couple of times just to soak in what he is putting forth. There were a couple of times I was like wow that could so translate to other areas of my life. Definitely check this book out.

More info on Kevin’s Work

Dog Walks Man: A Ruffview

My first book review. I recently picked up a copy of “Dog Walks Man” by John Zeaman. As one who spends a great deal of time walking my two Great Danes, the title of this book appealed to me. Very often I hear from people on the street as we pass by, Who’s walking who? Depends on the day I say with a smile. But I found this book to be about alot more than dog walking.

I particularly liked the chapter that speaks about the joys of getting to know your neighbors by the trash they leave at the curb. It really speaks volumes about the kind of consumers they are. Do they shop at Costco, Trader Joes? Do they recycle? and one thing that I always notice is how long it takes a homeowner to pick up a a piece of litter that was left on their driveway. I mean they pass by it everyday. I am always amazed that some people can walk by it and leave it there. But then that’s my pet peeve.

This book waxes poetic about the joys of getting in touch with the wild or fringes of suburbia via the dog walk. In this case the Meadowlands in NJ. It is true. You do start noticing places that you would normally drive right past had your dog not guided you there by virtue of his curious nose.

The writers style does not feel forced at all, rather comfortable and honest about the experience. Not trying too hard to make the dog walk more interesting than it is. Well written I felt.

There it is, my first review. Short and sweet. I recommend this book, if only to get you to re-examine something we take for granted or try to rush through all too often.

Dog Walks Man

Dog Haiku

Shuffling sounds he makes..
Like an old man in slippers…
my dog passes by.

Caesar is a True Work of Art

As I promised, here is my boy Dane, Caesar, as an abstract oil painting. Painted by our friend Greg Chicorelli. I really love the playfulness of this painting. Some of the swirls represent his beloved rubber ball (Mr. Squeeks, which stops squeeking after the first 5 minutes he has it) Hope you like it as much as I do. Greg Chicorelli is available to do commissioned paintings. You can contact me for info.

Greg Chicorelli Paints the Soul of our Special Lady, Chloe.

A friend of ours Greg Chicorelli, who is a very talented Photographer and now painter, Recently painted for us a beautiful oil painting of our Great Dane Chloe. In its abstraction It really captures the soul of Chloe. You can see chloe’s one eye looking at you from the painting just the way she does when she is lying on the couch next to you, just watching you in that curious way they do. I will have to post the previous painting Greg did of our boy Caesar as well. It has a more playful vibe. Enjoy! Greg Chicorelli is available to do commissioned paintings. You can contact me for info.

Winter Pics of my Dane Caesar!

Hail Caesar Snow Dog!

This is one of my all time favorite winter shots of my boy Caesar taken a couple years ago by the very talented photographer Charles DeLuca. Enjoy!

Calif Dog Rescued After Getting Head Stuck in Wall

Received this story from my friend Mike Remus. Thought it was funny. You gotta love the inquisitive nature of dogs. They teach us how to be more adventurous and curious and we help them stay safe in the process. Big thanks to the officer who rescued Rebel.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A curious puppy got his head stuck in an 18-inch block wall in Riverside County, but animal services officers were able to free him less than an hour later.

Riverside County Animal Services Sgt. James Huffman says Rebel, the 8-month-old German Shepherd, was whimpering and crying for help when he was discovered Monday in Desert Hot Springs.

He had apparently gotten stuck with his head in a wall, and was found by a neighbor while his owner was out.

Rebel had squeezed his head through the hole, but couldn’t back up to free himself without a few helping hands to lay his ears flat and pull him backwards.

Huffman says it’s unclear whether Rebel was chasing another animal or just curious.

This photo provided by the Riverside County Animal Services Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, (AP Photo, Riverside County Animal Services)

Animals Singing Deck The Halls.

Happy Holidays everyone, whatever holiday you celebrate!