It's Easy, It's Hard

It’s easy being a dog; it’s hard being a dog.

Dogs find it easy to smell things beyond human comprehension. In fact, forty times more of our brains are devoted to smell. They (humans) say that our sense of smell is about 100,000 times better than two-legged types. We find it easy to hear. We hear so well that it’s like being a fly on the wall of the world.

Although most humans don’t realize it, it’s easy for dogs to empathize with the feelings of other humans. We sense your sadness, your elation, even your frustration.

On the other hand, it’s hard to be a dog in some ways.

It’s hard to communicate to humans that we understand when you’re having a bad day or that we want to comfort you when you’re not feeling well. You have words, expressive faces. Yet we sense when something is wrong with you even when you say nothing or lack expression. Some dogs are so good at ‘reading’ people that they are used to warn others that a person is about to have an epileptic fit.

Humans have it so easy. If you want to say something, you can – to each other or to us. It may be hard for us (dogs) to tell you that we know you need help, or that you need a hug or that you’re so tired you’re hair hurts so you do not want to play. We know. Just as we hear and smell more than humans, we often see and understand more than humans can imagine.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Just as you don’t want to underestimate a dog’s ability to smell better than you, don’t underestimate our ability to empathize with what is going on with you. And… don’t underestimate our need for you to empathize with us.


Okay, the question of the day is from Whinney who asked: What’s up with my humans? They just put ANOTHER bling on my collar. I have a veterinarian tag, a name tag and now I’ve got a bling tag. Good grief. They make so much noise!

Dear Whinney:
Tell your humans to put a “corn pad” on the back of each tag. Humans put them on their toes but they are perfect for killing most of the clanking noise on your tags.