10 Canine Commandments 1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful to me. Remember that before you buy me. 2. Give me time to understand what you want from me. 3. Place your trust in me. It’s crucial to my well-being. 4. Dont be angry with me for long, and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I only have you. 5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when it’s speaking to me. 6. Be aware that however you treat me, I’ll never forget it. 7. Remember before you hit me: I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you. 8. Before you scold me for being un-cooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, or I’ve been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. 9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old. 10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: “I can’t bear to watch it”, or “Let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier for me if you are there. REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU.
Lisasho that is excellent. I find it full of reality to the top. It gives me shivers to read number 10, my good friend thought he was being kind and in his mind was right in his offer to take my dear Mika from me and put her down thinking it would spare me grief and put her at peace, I could not make him understand how horrible and absolutely unacceptable that is to me, because he is not like us here in the neighborhood where we hold our dogs in the highest form of compassion and love, he thinks "just a dog" and I would not be able to ever forgive myself if he carried this through, I need to be with her, hold her, to see that her last vision and last contact is with me and filled overflowing with my love for her. And for my own closure I must do what is I feel my duty my responsibility to her to comfort her as she so very much deserves. Why would anyone think other wise, I don't understand. Thanks for the reminder. JIM
Absolutely fantastic! Yes, I also believe that all pups should come with these instructions. Most pet owners have all this and more in their harts but it still is warming to read!
Before anyone is "allowed" to have a pet (of any sort) they should read these commandments...maybe breeders should put it in mock contract form and have potential buyers sign it?"" Maybe add a commandment to two to include the responsibility of yearly "shots" , grooming needs that shouldn't be neglected, and etc.! I see so much neglect because "it is only a dumb animal". (To which I respond..."there are no dumb animals, only ignorant owners"!
Go ahead and use it. The original email of this poem has a picture of the sweetest lab with it. When you read the poem and then look into the eyes of the lab the poem is even more moving.
I had the misfortune of putting my first cocker spaniel down and #10 on your list is so true. She was my little buddy and went everywhere with me. She had heart and lung probs. and I wouldn't stand to see her suffer or die alone so I made the compassionate, but painful decision to let her go. She still got up the strength to be excited to go for that final unfortunate and sad ride with me and that made it even tougher, but I wouldn't have done things any other way. She had traveled with me down many a road and out of respect for her unfailing companionship I owed her that final respect of comforting her and being there while she passed. On a happier note, my new cocker is probably even more spoiled than the last one (if that's possible) and yes, this is a very good set of commandments; one that I wish more dog owners would take into consideration. People really need to think about the fact that you need to spend quality time with any pet in order to build the type of relationship that is rewarding to both the human and the animal.
I think these are true, but I don't think anyone in this neighborhood would hit their dog. Anyone who is cruel to animals shouldn't have/be close to animals. Or humans. If you don't value an animal's life, what would make you value a human's life?
Thank you for sharing. Dogs know how to love unconditionally. I believe it is the number one thing people should learn how to do from dogs. Being human I include myself in needing to be more dog-like in this area. What a better place earth would be if we could all learn to love one another unconditionally.
Jenny, can I send this on to my rescue group? I think by changing the word,"buy" to "adopt" it would be a great inclusion in the adoption packet, and it is so-o-o true. It reminds me of something I posted a while back. I'm going to see if I can find it and bump it up. KC
Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
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