Lambiedog

A whole new world....

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What I do when no one's around

    A dog-owner with a home security camera provided this top-voted answer to the Quora question, "What does a dog do every day [when it's at home alone]?"  The gist of her answer was that her dog mostly sleeps, walks around, and waits for her to come home. 

    I don't want to cast any aspersions on her dog, but my own experience is far different. I am incredibly active both physically and mentally during the moments that I am at home alone.

    For one thing, I see that time as a critical opportunity for me to go back to the well, figuratively-speaking, and recharge my creative processes.   I fit in some slow breathing and meditation. I eat the breakfast I was too emotionally wrought up to focus on while everyone was at home.   I reorganize my rawhides.

    Additionally, I am acutely aware that I have been left in charge, a position of responsibility.  From my monitoring station on the sofa, I observe the neighborhood closely, integrating my observations into a constantly-updated internal representation of threats and opportunities.  We're talking substantive and sustained work here.  I'm often exhausted by the time my owner gets home.

    Several Quora respondents' answers included the observation that their dogs appear to be able to measure the passage of time, for example coming to stand near the door shortly before the owner would routinely be returning home.  In this area, their experience mirrors my own.  I too find myself very tuned in to the passage of time.  I pick up my cues and clues from changes in the ambient light, as well as from repetitive patterns of neighborhood activity, such as children coming home from school.

    If you're worried that all this cogitating is overtaxing me, please don't be.  Remember, what doesn't kill me is making me stronger.  Given that I will soon be entering my ninth year, I think it's a good thing that I devote so much bandwidth to staying mentally acute.  It's my canine version of Lumosity.

No One Belongs Here More Than You

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Morning fog

 

Sunset tonight

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In a desert, seeking that little patch of green

 

California is in the midst of a serious drought, and the bluffs are definitely not getting any watering.

A dog has to be resourceful to sniff out the green spots that signal comfort for personal activities. 

    

Back in beautiful sunset territory

Yes, the winter sunsets have begun again: my seasonal cathedral.

But if you look closely at this photo you will see that my attention is focused elsewhere.  I am staring fixedly across the street hoping that Suse will come out and offer me a treat.

I make a friend

This will probably shock my readers, but the majority of the dogs I refer to herein as 'friends' would more technically be described as acquaintances whom I see regularly. Just like a toddler whose playdates are dictated by his parents' friendships, I have been thrown together with and become 'friendly' with the dogs of my owner's friends. 

Today, however, I made a friend on my own.  His name is Lou, short for Loup-Garou, and he lives on the next bluff over from us.  

We got along unusually well.

    Active friendships are rare for me.  I hope to see Lou again soon.  

I spied my doppelgänger in a window

Hard loss

 

Howard's beloved dog Molly died on Thursday, after twelve-plus years with him.