Live with your joy!

     It is a snowy Sunday morning, which in my case means hanging out in bed and playing with my dogs. This is a time honored tradition in my life. Spending time, wrestling, petting, snuggling with my dogs on a lazy morning before I get up. I can remember such mornings with each of my dogs over my life time. It involves wrestling, snuggling, kissing, teasing and just pure enjoyment of dog ownership. The teasing part is different with each dog, what they will tolerate before that look of devil make care, turns into concern, as to whether I am really playing or serious.   They need not be concerned, I am always playing.   But how long they put up with the teasing or how much teasing I can get away with, is different with each of the dogs. The snuggles and the kisses and licks and head presses are my favorite. The head presses often turn into a somersault. The dog will come up to me, while I am laying under the covers. They will tilt their head to my forehead and press. This often results in them flipping themselves over into a belly rub position, with the tail end in my face. Not always ideal, but each dog, over the years, did this. It must be a learned response to our wrestling. I love this time spent together.
     I own my dogs for multiple reasons. I show them as a hobby, I train and learn from them as a second career element, I want them as protection and alarms in my home, and they are surrogate children for my childless family life. All these reason, rolled into one dog. My favorite quote, which I use as a signature on all of my emails is: "Know Dog, Know Joy; No dog, No Joy."  My Sunday morning play session today, was the perfect mirror of that quote. This is probably why I love the quote so much. I truly find joy in all of the reasons that I own my dogs.  I live with my joy, which is a four legged friend. This morning as I was getting my face washed by my 50 lb Aussie, I wondered how many of the people I know, feel this way about their face washers. Do they actually get their face washed. I feel sorry for them if they don't and I truly feel sorry for them if their dogs won't somersault onto their heads after a loving head press. These are some of the highlights of my life. I want and expect so much from my dogs: to be good, to show off for others, to do their lessons, to do qualifying work at a show, to let me know if the wind is blowing or that the mail man is approaching.  But what I want most from them is their affection and their play. This is truly why I have them. I hate if a day goes by and it doesn't allow for at least a moment of play.
     I recently fostered a dog for my Aunt and Uncle. It was a small lap dog and when I put her on my lap and leaned her against my chest and stroked her, I could feel the pressures of the day subside. I could actually feel it ebb away. My dogs aren't exactly lap dogs, being 50 plus lbs in weight and this I regret. That lap/chest hug is priceless. So, I will confess, I do allow my dogs to jump onto me. Ideally, not a jump on, jump off action. But rather a jump up and hug greeting. One that will last for several moments while I give away the stress of the day to someone who willing takes it from me. If you don't already have a dog or should I say, a joyful element in your life, I highly recommend a dog. If you have one or get one, give it love, but then take back even more than you gave.  Know Dog, Know Joy.  Live with your Joy.  Live with a dog.