Tonight's picture was taken in June of 2003. Mattie was one year old. In the middle of our living room, we had a play pen. At that age Mattie was all over the place, and when I needed to cook or do something for a short period of time, Mattie would have play time in the pen. With that said, Mattie truly did not like self entertainment. He wanted our attention and most definitely wanted a play partner. So literally most of the time Peter or I were in the pen with Mattie.
Quote of the day: New evidence is continually emerging, showing that people and their dogs have incredibly close bonds that resemble the ones that parents share with their children. ~ Alicia Buttner
I picked Sunny up from boarding on Monday. By Monday afternoon, we noticed that he had a bad scratch over his left eye. I am quite sure he got it from our walk. Traditionally when I pick him up from boarding, I then take him to his favorite place to walk in Alexandria, VA. Sunny likes to sniff and check out bushes, and most likely cut his skin on a thorn. I have been cleaning it out, but today the whole area looked swollen and his eye a different size. So to the vet he went. He wasn't happy! The only thing accomplished at the vet's office, was a significant bill. Otherwise, she says it is a scrape and we should encourage him not to scratch it. Funny! She even gave us the classic Elizabethan collar. Equally hysterical. As Sunny had it off within seconds!
Needless to say, I think it is rather ironic that Peter found the article entitled, Stressed out? Your dog may feel it too and sent it to me. Swedish researchers focused on 58 people who own border collies (like Sunny) or Shetland sheepdogs. They examined hair from the dog owners and their dogs, looking at the concentrations of a hormone called cortisol, a chemical released into the bloodstream and absorbed by hair follicles in response to stress. The research team found that the patterns of cortisol levels in the hair of dog owners closely matched that found in their dogs in both winter and summer months, indicating their stress levels were in sync.
I joke all the time that Walk season is stressful for Sunny. He isn't only stressed because he receives less attention and sporadic Walks, but that he emotionally feels the stress of me working around the clock. Sunny is a very sensitive fellow and I can tell he is much happier now that I am not glued to the computer.
But as tonight's quote points out, the bond between a human and a dog is quite special. I know the author compares it to the connection between parents and children. I am not sure I would go that far, but then again, maybe! I have gotten to know other dog owners in our neighborhood, as we are the only ones out there regardless of the weather. We are like the post office, we do our job in rain, sleet, snow, and intense heat! Several of the dog owners I have met are older than me and have never married. Yet they have dogs. The dogs are their family and one dog in particular gets treated with a bowl of ice cream every night. Something I am sure Sunny would sign up for if I offered it! My point is I see exactly what this research is highlighting in my everyday life. If Sunny were allowed everywhere I go (grocery store, restaurants, etc), I most definitely would take him.
Stressed out? Your dog may feel it too, study suggests:
https://apnews.com/cd654537064a40adb97fe7bd1c63ba3e
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