Chasing Tail

Did I get your attention with my catchy title? It’s a little play-on-words to lure you into my blog.

My reference is not to human males chasing down girls. Instead, I’m referring to how dogs end up spinning around and around in a circle because they’re obsessed with chasing their own tail. A vivid (word of the day) demonstration of this problem can be viewed in the video below.


Dog Chasing Tail

Now, there is a human correlation to my ‘chasing tail’ reference but you need to hear my story first.

I was eavesdropping today when my foster mom (Jet) was on the phone. She was talking to some business guy who (as it sounded) wasn’t getting anywhere because he was chasing everywhere. – Chasing tail so to speak.

Humans, especially busy boomers and aspiring Gen Xer and Millennial types, become obsessed with doing rather than achieving. Jet says, you can always tell the difference between a do-er and an achiever because an achiever talks about the results of their work (rather than about what they do and all they know), and (she adds) achievers are very focused, clear about priorities and therefore know when to say ‘no’ to new “opportunities.” Achievers jump at the newest, greatest thing and are easily distracted by what appears to be the most alluring or ‘looks’ better to other people.

She’s right.

Which brings me back to chasing tail.

These are pretty tough economic times. Even dogs know this since there is a 22% increase in dumps of my four-legged buddies on the streets by people that can’t pay to take care of us anymore.

It seems to me that instead of being obsessed with dumping your dog, what humans really need to do is dump what isn’t important. Wouldn’t each moment be – richer, each day - more productive, each year – more abundant if you focused on achieving rather than doing? Wouldn’t you end up with a life filled with more laughter and love; with a business legacy that will outlast the next four generations of your gene pool?

It was a (long) rhetorical question.

“So,” I ask, “Why not live your life this way instead of chasing tail”?

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Samson and Delilah who asked: Why? Why? Why? We have several questions: Why do humans give us dry treats without any sign of water? Why do humans speak to us in baby talk?

Dear Samson and Delilah:

First, very cool names. You’re practically famous in the big B-I-B-L-E. Seriously, how cool is that? - Not many dogs are named by Bible celebrities.

Sorry, I digress.

Okay you two (and all my readers), I don’t know how old you are but once you’ve been on the streets awhile (remember, I’m an abandoned dog), you will realize that humans are awesome and also… not so bright sometimes. This is the best answer I have for why they would serve you dry treats and no water with which to wash down the yummies. Having said that, you can always do what my buddy Nokona does when he’s thirsty. He puts his nose by the water dish if mom is running about. If she’s lying in bed watching TV (and drinking from her water bottle) then he puts his nose against the bottle.

As for the baby talk… What I’ve learned is that all humans (with few exceptions) have A GIANT SPECIAL PLACE in their heart for babies. So, as annoying as it may be, enjoy the baby talk because it’s just a human’s goofy way of saying you are REALLY, REALLY special.


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