It's frisbeetastic!

There will be no photos today so I will rely on your imagination. First, picture a new, green, flexible frisbee. Then, me. There are lots of photos on other posts so that will be easy. Now, Tim and Mandy. Feel free to see them however you want, any size, shape, age or race. They don't mind, but attractive is better than not. Now, one rugby field surrounded by trees on three sides and a quiet suburban road on one. Add, one hot summers day just before the sun sets and it has cooled down a fair bit. Feel free to embelish it with anything which might add to the scene.

Tim and Mandy start by throwing the frisbee to me. I charge after it, coming to terms with the flight of this new object. I then pick up and run around with glee at my new possession. Then Tim and Mandy throw it to each other and I run back and forth and pounce on it when it missed its target, which was quite often as they are new to frisbee throwing. Now, imagine a tail wagging, smiling and laughing. This bit of rubber provided us with a whole heap of joy. It is proving challenging catching the frisbee but I have done it a few times. There is a border collier in the dog park who can do amazing leaps to catch a frisbee. I say go out and get a frisbee. If you're a dog, convince your person. If you're a person without a dog do it anyway, as Tim and Mandy enyoyed it a lot. 

A New Pack Leader

The good people and dogs of the United States of America chose themselves a new pack leader a little while ago. His name is Bark Obama....or is it Barack? Anyway, Tim got out his book Dreams from My Father from the library. (I don't know why but they won't let dogs take out books. I guess we like to chew things sometimes.) It is about his childhood until about his late twenties. It is very well written and insightful. I think he will be an excellent pack leader. He is intelligent, compassionate and he thinks about the whole pack from every perspective. I heard just after he was elected that he was going to let a dog elect him. He wanted to get a pound dog but he or someone in his family is allergic so they needed a hypoallergenic dog. As he said they probably needed a pure breed for this reason and that "pound dogs are usually mutts, like me." I too am a mutt. 

All Action

There are a lot of photos of me lying around on this blog. It is a past time I do often and I am good at it. However, I really enjoy being active as well. I subscribe to the Buddhist philosophy; when lying, just lie. When sitting, just sit. When waiting eagerly for the ball to be thrown, just wait eagerly for the ball to be thrown. When chasing the ball, just chase the ball. You can see my whole dogness is one hundred per cent aimed at getting the ball. My tail is streamlined and my ears are positioned for maximum lift. One day I might just fly. It is important to be one with the ball. There is no dog, no ball, no person throwing, no field. Everything is one. 

Of course it is much easier for Tim and Mandy to take photos of me at zero kilometres per hour but I will try and encourage them to take more action shots. 

The Da Ruby Code

Merry Christmas everyone! Now let me tell the parts of the Christmas story they do not want you to know. I have pieced this story together after hours and hours of painstaking research, mostly in the dog park. First of all, you know the shepherds who were present at the birth of Jesus. They were dogs. Their job was to protect the sheep. Like a much earlier version of the German Shepherd. Also, Jesus was not born in a manger, he was born in a dog boarding kennel. Everyone had to go back to their hometown for the census and some people couldn't take their dogs so it was very full. There were not sheep, cows and pigs there but many different breeds of dogs. In Aramaic, Jesus means "hound like." Do you think it is a coincidence the God spelt backwards is Dog? Have a barking good Christmas.

A Human Next Time?

"Sure, I'm stuffed into a dog's body, but that's just the shell. It's what's inside that's important. The soul. And my soul is very human. I am ready to become a man now, though I realize I will lose all that I have been." The Art of Racing in the Rain. Garth Stein. The dog in this book is Enzo. He is very old and wants to come back human next time.

My soul is very dog.  I love humans but I'm not sure I want to be one. I am very happy as a dog. I wouldn't mind being a person, they have thumbs and speech, but I think I would really miss charging around on all fours. Let's face it, without machines humans are plodders. Sometimes I chase birds for fun and admire the way they don't panic but gracefully take to the air. Yeah, I reckon it would be a good life soaring like a pelican or darting around like a rainbow lorikeet. Both of which we see in this part of the world.

Often humans are caught up in their head with thoughts. 

Whereas, a dog or a bird is usually in their body in the moment in the world. How about you? What would you like to be next time?

An Award!

I have won an award just in time for Christmas. It was kindly given by Profoundy Inarticulate.

The award states that "This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!" In other clearer words, "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Apparently it began in Portugal.

So I am giving the award to the following, in no particular order; 

Honey the Great Dane

Pub Dog Days

Ruby the Mini Dachshund

The Rain Never Falls Just Ounce

Minnie-Moo

Dughallmor Beagles

Domi the Therapy Dog

Raising Addie

So there you are, I'm sorry there is only one human, I meant to give more to humans but you hounds make such good blogs Please feel under no pressure to pass it on. 

I would like just say thank you to all the blogs I have read and all those who have read my blog. It is a great egalitarian medium. Any person or dog, or even cat, can publish about anything they like so anybody can read it all round the world. How great is that!? 

The Old Dog and the Old Man

Yesterday we met a really nice old dog with a really nice old man. They were a similar age, 11 in dog years and early seventies in human years. They both looked really fit and healthy. The man said that he didn't want the dog when he got him and still did not want him for a few years as he never had pets. His wife and kids insisted that they keep him. Then he began to really love his dog. He takes him out for two walks a day, getting up at 5 am to avoid the heat. He loves his walks for the mental, physical and spiritual benefits. (Nearly all dogs know about these benefits but a lot of people do not.) Last year this man had a triple bypass and made a full recovery. Apparently, a triple bypass is a serious thing indeed and Tim and Mandy were very surprised as he looked very healthy and much younger than his years. If he hadn't been in such good condition, he would have surely died. 

While the people chatted, I played with the hound, a Belgian Shepherd. Most older dogs find my playful, puppy energy a bit much to take but he was happy to play with me as I bounded around. They were an inspiring pair. I guess the message is; keep walking and keep your zest for life!

The picture is an artistic shot of me running with a toy showing my playful, puppy energy. Tim asked me to stress that it wasn't that he couldn't get all of me in the shot, it is artistic. 

The Art of Waiting

Are you good at waiting? I am. Here I am waiting for a walk. Of course, it is much harder if Tim or Mandy aren't home and I'm alone, which does not happen often. I hear some dogs aren't good at waiting and pester their people or create mischief, if they are alone. A lot of people aren't good at it and get very impatient. Apparently, Tim's father never queues up for anything and has been known to walk out of a supermarket rather than wait in line. (I'm counting on the fact that he doesn't read blogs written by dogs or I'll be in the dog house next time we visit.) Tim tells me that people in India are excellent at waiting. They can sit around and wait all day without getting impatient. 

Here are some tips for those humans and canines who need improvement at waiting;

1) Accept the situation. Don't compare the situation you are in with something else, especially the thing you are waiting for. Imagine that you are going to be waiting forever. Really experience it. This is life and life is great. In short, be in the moment.

2) Have faith. The next meal or walk is just around the corner. It will come when the time is right. Instead of rushing things, allow things to unfold in good time. 

So next time you find yourself waiting, enjoy it. I'm going to just lie around now. I'm sure Tim will take me for a walk in a while. 

On Being Content

I do not want to be anything other than I am. I do not want to be a bird, a human or a cat; though all of these creatures are great, yes even cats. I am a medium sized black dog. I do not want to be tan, white or brindle. I want to be me. I do not want to be small like Ruby the Mini Dachsund or big like Honey the Great Dane, though both would have great advantages. I am happy being me and I don't try to be anyone else. 

Humans have many fantastic qualities and you know they are our best friend. I love that they are social animals and like to connect with other beings. They can be really good at compassion. There is a tendency among people to want to be something other than they are. They sometimes feel they are not "good enough," whatever that means. It can occasionally affect their relationship with their dog. If there is a problem, they think their dog is not "good" or "smart" enough. By all means when there is a problem, a solution is needed but it is no-one's fault. Every being is perfect. So rejoice in all creatures great and small, including yourself.

My First Bicycle Ride

Today I went on my first bicycle ride. Well, Tim rode and I ran along beside. For those hounds that don't know, a bicycle is a mechanical device with two round legs that humans sit on power with their own legs. I'm sure you have seen them, maybe you enjoy barking at them. It is amazing. You know how humans plod along at a snail's pace and you have to be really patient with them on a walk, well the same legs can allow them to go very fast when on a bicycle.

I often see Tim going out on his bike so I was very excited when he took me along today. I had to concentrate to go at the right speed in the right place and so did Tim. I also had to be good and not go running after bush turkeys and barking dogs behind fences. Tim has been riding bicycles his whole life, he is 4 and a half in dog years, so he has good skills. At the end we were both hot, it is a cloudy, muggy day here. It was great fun and a really good workout.

The photo is of me staking out the kitchen waiting for something good. They don't let me in the kitchen. Does that sound fair to you?

A Short Story.

A human called Bob got a job in a cafe which every man and his dog went to so he had to work like a dog. He was basically a dog's body but being very dogged, he stuck with it. One customer wearing a dog collar was going on about his dogma. Another army man with dog tags was being hounded by his wife, she was like a dog with a bone and he was in the dog house. A fighter pilot who thought he was the dog's bollocks was bragging about winning a dog fight and Bob thought, "every dog has his day." Bob looked at the customers wolfing down their hot dogs and thought, "it's a dog's life while I have to survive the dog eat dog world of the kitchen." The customers dog-eared the menus and they salivated like Pavlov's dogs after he took their orders . The cafe was situated on a dog leg and a man made a dog's breakfast of the turn and crashed. He looked as fit as a butcher's dog but he staggered in. He was dogged off about the crash so Bob thought he would let sleeping dogs lie and left him to be a lone wolf. By then, Bob was dog tired and his last customer asked for a doggie bag. Bob told his manager he had to see a man about a dog and left. Even though it was raining cats and dogs, he was as happy as a dog with two tails.

Happy Day

Happy is the day I go for a walk.

Happy is the day I chase a ball.

Happy is the day I spend with my pack.

Happy is the day I get well-fed.

Happy is today.

Human and dogs, what is happy in your today?

Dogtor

I am a dogtor. This term was coined by our human friend Jasmine about her dogs. I haven't been to university (can you believe that they don't allow dogs?) but would your GP do this (photo)? (If the answer is yes, I suggest you change GPs.) The truth is that us dogs heal in many ways. Did you know that people who live with dogs live longer than people who don't? 

Many people suffer from stress for all sorts of reasons and we just have the knack of reducing stress and restoring health. We also intuitively know when something is wrong. There was a story on the TV about a woman who had a cancer on her skin. Her dog would not leave it alone until she finally went to the doctor and had it treated. 

People also have amazing power to heal. By thinking positively and imagining good health they can heal themselves and others. 

Remember, we are all healers!

TV Dogs

My favourite TV dog is Gromit from Wallace and Gromit, the British animation. He exhibits the finest qualities of dogginess. He is loyal, intelligent, perceptive and down-to-earth. He notices everything that is going on and comes to the rescue of his person Wallace. 

My next favourite is Rex from the Austrian police show Inspector Rex. Rex, a German Shepherd, is loyal, intelligent, perceptive, brave and mischievous. He loves ham rolls and often steals other police officiers' rolls. He always manages to apprehend the criminal in the end. 

Who is your favourite TV, or movie, dog?

Kids!

Last night we went to visit our human friends. I got lots of attention from the two little humans, one resident and one visiting. Here is a picture with a different little person. I got a lot of this style of hug last night.  I must say little people (LP) seem to be more sensible than big people (BP). BP plod along in a very predictable and boring manner, while LP dart around to whatever takes their fancy, which is a much more interesting way to conduct your life. LP are very excitable and they love giving me attention. They realise that I am the most interesting being around. They also love receiving kisses all over. There are some BP who don't like kisses at all!  LP share their food and helpfully spill their food. They are more fun and less stressed. I still love BP though. BP will sit still long enough for good pats and they are great for long walks. 

What do you think are the positives of little people and big people?

Rainy Days

Yesterday, it rained all morning so we just lay around. Waiting. Waiting. We decided to visit a neighbour but Tim had left his keys in Mandy's car so we lay around some more. There is a definite art to laying around. Zen Buddhists have the right idea. When standing just stand, when sitting just sit and when lying just lie. I know a wise dog Chloe who says, "Why stand when you can sit? Why sit when you can lie?" That's how the morning went.

Then in the afternoon, we walked on the football fields by the creek. I immediately picked up a small bit of wood and ran around with glee. Some old man, possibly Italian, said, "beautiful" about me. I think it says somewhere in the bible something like, "there is a time for lying and there is a time for running around with glee with a small bit of wood in your mouth."

Please comment, people and dogs, on the art of lying around and running.

Special Gift

"Everyone has a special gift to give others. If you listen to the wisdom of your heart, you will know what it is. The secret of happiness is to use your special gift. The secret of wealth is to give your gift to others." Child of the Dawn Gautama Chopra (son of Deepak Chopra)

I think my special gift is to lighten the hearts of others with my  joy, exuberance and playfulness. When I am waiting outside the supermarket, many people see me and smile. When I meet another dog, I often go into the play bow and then have a lot of fun playing with the other dog. When I chase a ball at full pace, people sometimes feel exhilirated. I love to go up to meet people and give them kisses. Barry always brings an apple because he is generous and he loves watching me eat an apple. I give Mandy and Tim countless hours of joy. 

I can't say I'm perfect and exhibit these qualities 100 per cent of the time. I can have my moments but not many. 

I also get many gifts from others. People often give me affection. Dogs give me fun and the chance to show my dogginess. Mandy and Tim give me a huge amount. They are my pack. 

We all, people and dogs, have a special gift. It is so important to recognise them in ourselves and others. The most grumpy and aggressive dog in the park has a special gift. So do you.

A Sheep!

I am a sheep-dog and yesterday I found my first sheep. Tim took me to a vacant block next to a primary school. I sensed something exciting in the school and I just couldn't resist. I ran up and there she was. I rounded her up. Well... she was just one sheep and she was tied up so afterward I felt a bit sheepish myself. (Of course, I didn't harm the sheep.) Tim thought it was exciting too, he came running after me yelling. 

Speaking of rounding up sheep, there was a story on the radio, Radio National, about a three-legged sheep dog called Casper who competes in sheep-dog trials and does well for himself. He only has one more leg than humans! He and his person don't use the missing leg as an excuse. Just think of Casper next time you think you can't do something. 

P.S. It was great to meet you yesterday Harley.

Storms

You may have heard that we have had big storms in Brisbane. Our part of Brisbane has not received damage. Tim and I went for a walk by the creek yesterday and we could see the effects. A railing had been knocked over due to plants and reeds getting caught on it and the sheer force of the water. On the football fields next to the creek, I found a few dead fish. I had never seen fish before so I went up and respectfully smelt these poor, strange beings. A field is not the place for these creatures of the water. When I come across a newly dead animal, I can sense the life that was there and now has gone. It is the natural way of things. (However, when the animal has decomposed I pick up the remants of the corpse and run around like a kid at Christmas. Tim doesn't like this very much.)

I welcome comments from dogs and people on any topic.

My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I'm one year old. I have now done one complete lap of the seasons. I started in late spring and now here we are again in late spring. Life goes round and round in cycles. As Ecclesiastes said, "The sun still rises, and it goes wearily back to where it must start all over again.....What has happened before will happen again....There is nothing new in the whole world." Some people seem to have trouble with this but us dogs are very comfortable with it. In one sense we are all going around and around chasing our tails and in another life is an eternal present that is to be enjoyed. 

 

I really enjoyed my last day in Sydney, (we are now back in Brisbane). Tim and I went on a walk for about two and a half hours. Here are the photos. Look at all that green space! I met some nice puppies. The joy of being a dog in the park! There is nothing like it. What are your joys? Humans and canines let me know. 

Feeling Great!

I'm feeling better!! Yay!! Tim and I went on a big walk to Queen's Park and Centenial Park. I had all my energy and there were a lot of dogs to play with. Life is great when you are young, a dog and in the park. There is nothing like a big walk and run for feeling great. Tim agrees. He missed having a big walk these last few days. I met Phoebe, who is a kelpie cross border collie. She was nearly all black and nearly as fast as I am.  

Being a bit poorly has really made me appreciate my health and how fantastic life is. Whether you are a dog or a person, just get out there and do what you love.

By the way, what do think is better; chasing or being chased? I love both but probably prefer being chased. I like to get something which looks like fun, e.g. a stick, a bit of rubbish, other dogs' balls or toys, and then run around and around until somebody chases me. Let me know what your answer is. (This question can apply to humans, though the meaning is slightly different.) 

Here is a picture of me chewing the cardboard part from the toilet paper surrounded by Jacaranda flowers.

A Great, Big Palm Frond

I am still feeling lousy, as you can see. I have a fifth of my usual energy. I was still able to go to the park though and it is a beautiful day. I ran around a bit with a Scottish Terrier. He had little legs so it was not too strenuous. I also perked up this morning when I saw a great big palm frond had fallen in the back yard. I love chewing them to bits. As Tim says, "Everyone needs a frond." As Mandy says, "He thinks he's funny." I did not have my usual energy to get really stuck into it but I gave it a good go. 

I find it curious how people sometimes do not understand dogs. We are very straightforward. If we are happy, we leap around

with joy. If we are frustrated, we bark. If we do not like someone, we growl. If we think we are boss, we do what we want. If we think you are boss, we do what you want. In short, we express ourselves fully in the present moment and then forget it. 

People, however, tend to complicate things. If they do not like something, they sometimes pretend they do like it and then think and think about it later. Why do you do this? Have you ever seen someone who knows what they doing, human or canine, turn around an unruly dog in a matter of moments? That is because we do not hold on to issues, we are open to change. 

I welcome comments from dogs and people on any topic.

Taking it Easy

I am sorry to say I am feeling not too well. I have taken some intestinal worming medication and it has left me feeling a bit lethargic so I am only able to take Tim on shorter walks. We had been going on walks for more than two hours. He is OK with it. I rested  in the afternoon while Tim went out. He came back all salty. It smelled like he had a good time at the beach. 

I had a short run in the park this morning. I had fun with a nice, scruffy dog. Then there was a black-and-white barker (Mandy's name for a Border Collie). He was running with a couple of people. So I got low down on the ground to signal to him I wanted to play. Then I ran right up to him and he got snarly so I gave him some space. He obviously did not like me getting too close to his people. The woman said something to Tim, which I could not understand. I could sense that she was embarrassed by his behaviour. There was nothing to it. He was just telling me to keep my distance. It is strange how people often get all embarrassed and flustered by dogs' behaviour. Something happens, you experience and move on. It is simple. I am not saying you do not learn something from it, just that you do not need to carry it with you or worry so much what people think. 

Anyway, I am going to spend the rest of the day lying in the sun or in bed and hopefully I will recover soon.

Sydney Water

I am in Sydney staying with Tim's parents. They are lovely people. For some reason, I am not allowed inside the house. I find this very curious. Something else I found curious was water coming from beneath the grass, they have beautiful green grass. So naturally I started digging to investigate. I discovered a black pipe about half a foot under the ground. I bit into it to better understand the nature of it. Water started spurting out of it with some velocity in a few directions. It was all very exciting so I gave a bark to let the others share the excitement. They came running out of the house and had a look. Shortly after the water stopped and they seemed to be displeased with me. Sometimes I don't understand people. I love people but they do have a lot of quirks. 

Anyway, Tim and I have been going to Cenntenial Park. We go walking for about six kilometres around the park and I can run free of the lead. It is tremendous fun. There are so many dogs and people and they are so friendly and full of joy. 

Hello and welcome.

Hello and welcome. My name is Ruby Isabella Jones and this is my blog. I am taking this opportunity to describe the world as I see it. I am still young, eleven months, and find being alive such a wonderous and exciting thing. Everyday is full of learning and joy. 

I live in Brisbane, Australia with two wonderful humans; Tim Mulligan and Mandy Moore, who are a married couple. We live in an old Queenslander house, which is made of timber. We all enjoy spending time at home and love going for walks. 

My ancestry is part Kelpie, an Australian sheep dog, and I am not sure what else. Labrador, Grey Hound, Whippet and Pointer have been some suggestions.

As this is being read by humans, let me just say that I love people. Interacting with them and getting pats is fantastic. On the whole, people are friendly and warm. Some people seem to be fearful and troubled, a few seem distant and indifferent, very few seem aggressive but the vast majority are really friendly and joyful. 

I encourage you to come back every day or two as I will post new material. Please feel welcome to add your own comment about any topic.