There is so much to learn from our best friends. They rarely complain. They see everything in a positive light. They don't hold grudges. They don't stress about the small stuff. And most importantly, they Keep Wagging!
Join us in this awesome adventure in tapping into what dogs already know!
I want to thank all of the men and women who have put their lives on the line serving our country. There aren't a lot of people who willingly volunteer their time, energy and yes, sometimes their life to protect our country. Thank you from all of us. Here's an article on CNNthat provides more insight into Memorial Day, certainly much more eloquently than I can. And I would highly recommend thisCNN article profiling Karl Malantesand his struggles (which most soldiers will face) after returning home. Most people never think that once you participate in a war, it never ends.
I'd also like to take a moment and say thanks to all of the dogs and their handlers out there that also serve their country. Dogs, by and large, go unnoticed in the war against terrorism but rest assured they do their part and many have given their lives doing so. Take a moment and visit http://www.uswardogs.org/id2.html
And the dog training secret.com site is really awesome as well detailing the contributions that dogs make and have made.
There are so many special dogs and trainers out there that deserve our thanks and recognition for the difficult work they perform on our behalf.
Thank you again for serving our country. Stay healthy and happy and keep wagging everyone!
Monique
noseprints.net
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A friend sent me a link to a video and I was reminded how a little gesture can have far reaching implications and underscore what is really important in life. I bring this up not to pat myself on the back but because I think it is important to realize that no matter how small the gesture, you can touch someones life and not even be aware of it.
We created the "Keep Wagging" slogan to remind people to take a lesson from dogs and keep a positive attitude in spite of anything and everything life throws at them. This stems from watching too many seriously injured dogs that wagged when I approached them on an exam table. Here's a dog with a broken leg and in spite of his pain, he's wagging because he's happy to see me. That is a valuable lesson and I would learn that it can get you through really tough times.
Flash forward to a gentleman (Florida Highway Patrolman) who bought a couple of Buddy Belts from Noseprints.net and shortly thereafter was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in him being in a coma. His recovery was slow and painful and undoubtedly a very low point - I can only imagine struggling though the pain, rehab and depression, wondering if he would ever get better. I am very proud that a Keep Wagging greeting card that we sent with his order profoundly impacted his life, lifted his spirits and helped him turn a corner.
I watched this and cried because when you touch someones life, really reach them on a level that you never even though of reaching someone, you realize that this is what we seek in life. I found myself in a place where I was giving instead of taking and I would think we should all aspire to that. To give someone hope and help them through a tough time - well, it doesn't get any better than that.
Keep Wagging everyone!
Monique
Seriously? I watch stuff like this in horror - and the first thoughts are always about the welfare of the animal. But the larger question is always "What the hell are these people thinking?" I'm so sick of animals being abused for entertainment or something that is considered a "tradition"... I'm wondering what positive contribution comes out of this sort of thing. If you genuinely care about your horse, you would be mad as hell and prosecute. Watch at your own risk.
By now you've all heard or watched Kyle Dyer being bitten by Maximus, a dog that made news when he was rescued after following through the ice. You know the details but let me tell you, based on my experience, my observations. And yes, she was not educated (as most people are not) on how to not only approach a dog but how to tell that a dog is nervous and potentially dangerous because something is making them uncomfortable. As I watched a clip on the Today show, the first think I noticed was how uncomfortable the dog was. He was licking his lips (a sure sign that they are nervous) and panting and his ears were back (instead of forward pointing). When you see one of these signs let alone all three, you never approach a dog - you let them come to you. And you should never, ever bend down to a dog that doesn't know you and is showing signs of distress. Most people have never been taught this. My husband got over sixty stitches in his leg from being an idiot with a dog and he readily admits he deserved it. She wasn't being an idiot but she was clearly not educated on what to look for and how to approach a dog. The dog was clearly not in his comfort zone. He's in an environment that he doesn't recognize with people he doesn't know. Of course he's going to be skittish. Imagine having a twenty foot person bending down in your face (which is probably how the dog perceives a much larger human bending down over them). I'm sorry to hear that she was bitten - what is ever sadder are the people who are condemning the dog. Ignorance will get you injured. Just ask my husband who had to get sixty stitches in his leg because he was being an idiot (his words, not mine).
