Reflections

I Don't Think I Could be Depressed If I Had A Dog

Perhaps it's just a coincidence - my good mood this past week seems to have lined up with dogsitting the neighbour's wire haired pointer, Amy.

Yes I know, who calls a dog Amy? I have yet to ask. The fact that it rhymes with Jamie, so that when I speak either name, both turn around, is funny enough.

I used to have a dog - a border collie cross called Port, loyal a.f and a bit crazy. My family always had kelpies, particuarly a beautiful black and tan called Smudge, the dog by which all other dogs were measured. When Jamie and I were first together we had a dog called Rosie - a cross between a rottweiler, an alsation, a ridgeback and - yeah, she was scary looking, but she was a good dog and we loved her to bits. We had to leave her behind when we moved to Australia - it would have been cruel to take her and expensive too.

Amy's everything we would want in a dog. She's obedient and velcro, meaning she sticks to you. Her recall is fantastic. She sits, waits, heels. She sleeps all night. She's funny and silly and she loves the beach.

We took her to Mum's to do the gardening and she ran round all morning after rabbits. No need to worry where she was - she'd come instantly with a whistle. She comes into the room in the morning for us to stroke her and scratch her ears and whines a little til we get up and take her for a walk. When you have a dog you can't just stay in bed, sad and disconsolate - there's something, someone, to get up for.

We have her for another week and a half before the neighbour's house sitter steps in, and then in another ten days we'll have her for a few days before they get back. We whatsapped them (they're in France) joking they'll never get her back because we love her too much.

I'd be googling 'wire haired pointers' for sale if we weren't going off travelling ourselves soon. Dogs are for life - you can't just up and leave them and the hassle of finding dog sitters and expense of kennels is just too much. They're pretty grateful we love Amy so much - and she's having some grand adventures when they are away - so grateful they got us a voucher for an expensive restaurant in town.

We would look after her for free - she's a good, good dog, and has lifted my mood considerably.

`With Love,`

Comments · 5

@owasco(73)· 14h
I love Amy myself! She's quite the dog.

My pup got me through the worst of the worst. I am so grateful to have had her to love. Yes, she makes travel more difficult, but I have a good friend who is happy to take her for me, and love her up good in the process. I miss her when I am gone though. Get a dog!!! Think of all the post material you will have.
@cliffagreen(68)· 17h
Animals are angels sent to teach us more of ourselves. I've found the opportunity to provide care to the farm animals every morning (and off and on all day) to be a source of happiness, so I think I can understand how having the purpose of getting up for the dog can lift your mood. And what a pretty dog! Such a sweet loveable face. :)
@nicklewis(70)· 18h
I think Amy sounds wonderful. We’ve had dogs in the past but not for a number of years now. Not since Diesel, our Terrier-cum-Schnauzer departed to doggy heaven.
@goldenoakfarm(77)· 19h
Yes having a pet to get up and care for is really a thing. Larry makes sure I am up at a reasonable hour every day. And he's a really good cat, except for at 6AM and 6PM when he's obnoxious...
@muhshrooms(57)· 19h
I can understand that having Amy around has lifted your mood, and I'm not dismissing that at all. But here's the elephant in the room: if the dog is what keeps you from being depressed, what happens when Amy leaves? Does the absence of the dog then become the reason you're depressed?

A dog can absolutely give someone companionship, routine, affection, and something to get up for. I just don't think it's reasonable to turn that into “I couldn't be depressed if I had a dog.” That's taking something that makes you feel better and making it the explanation for why you feel bad without it.

#cleanyourhead #meditate #exercise

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