A Cowdogs Advice

Grip up, America!

Cowdog character

Do Unto Others

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Here we are, between the seasons of gratitude and giving.

 

Somehow I don’t believe there should be only a season to behave this way and such traits should be practiced year-round.

 

 

 

I am an observant dog, and I notice people are just a lot more rude and mean these days! Not so much around here, out in the northern mountain back-country – well, there aren’t too many people any way. 

 

But I see on the news, TV, social media and college campuses – people are nasty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now when I was a pup, that behavior would get  a quick snarl and a nip if need be, and we learned to treat others with respect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now even if you’re polite, but stand up for what is right and good, you still run a good chance of offending the delicate sensibilities of some self-absorbed nitwit!

 

 

 

I’m a smart dog, but I don’t understand this loony mentality: be rude to others, then totally offended by others??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now there is a time to fight, and I am sure the dog to do it. I will defend my own, stand up for truth, repel all evil, and those who test me will know they got the full grit of a real Heeler!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet, I think the bible had it right – do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

When did people quit teaching their young such basic manners? I think they need to go back to the manual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is time, especially going into the season of hope and light, to bring a world gone crazy back to the basics. Pups must be taught respect, kindness, politeness, honor to elders… and more than a few older pups need to learn this too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was taught manners, but still daily must practice being a kinder, gentler soul.

 

I constantly modulate nips and yips with smiles and humor, thus giving others the opportunity to pet a dog. That makes everyone happy I’ve noticed. And they smile too.

 

 

 

Defend what is right, but never  reverse civility to lawlessness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to cookies, gifts and beautiful pines, this would be a good time to plan for kindness. Watch your words and attitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll get paws up and big dog smiles when you “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll be joining the holiday preparations – getting a tree, hanging lights outside, making and sampling cookies, licking the cheeseball, herding cats from under the tree, sniffing presents for the ones with treats, and always trying to be a blessing.

 

 

As always, I attempt to balance being both family friendly and yet wildly troubling to bad people.

 

Some of my ideas, I would not want “done unto me” , so I keep practicing!

 

A Ladysmith List – Cowdog Traits You Need Today

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Well, fall is winding down.  It has me thinking about a Ladysmith List of  good cowdog character traits to gather and develop this time of year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was another week of good weather, and by now every beautiful day is ever more a gift. The hills are ablaze with the Aspen, those show-offs that came late and took over the color show.

 

The willows by the creek compete with their own mass gilding, too. Here in the northern Rockies, we don’t have the autumn colors of the hardwood forests further east, I’m told, but we do have a lot of our own color in a good year, if early blizzards or deep cold don’t blacken and blow it away. This is a good year.

 

A little cold at night, one brief snow, still warm sunny days – and the chokecherries along the creek turned orange, then the service berries, roses and others up the hills. Even buckbrush and other nuisance shrubs have redeemed themselves in a blaze of glory! And they’ve all stayed, though yesterday’s big wind probably stripped the color a bit.

 

As my reader’s know, we’ve been planning and prepping for winter, like everyone must do. Of course there is always more to do, and it is never done. That’s life.

 

 

But it has me thinking that part of gettin’ ready is some cowdog character traits to get us through the tough times – in this case, the dark, cold, spare, bitter times of winter. The older I get, the rougher winter is, like it is for us all. There is some fun in the snow, too, but it gets harder to find when the old bones stiffen up.

 

 

So here are the cowdog traits that I’ll be working on, encouragement through rugged and wintry times:

 

 

Hope – The thing that keeps us believing in the possible, the future, and knowing there will be good coming. 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith – The absolute certainty that God has a plan and it includes us. Relax and let Him take care of things. Live by faith, not by fear.

 

 

 

 

 

Peace – If you keep the first two, this one sure comes easier. This old cowdog likes to sleep in peace at night. 

 

 

 

 

 

Strength – I try to exercise all of this old dog – spirit, soul and body. Keep going, keep trying, never give up or give in. 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonder – As you keep trying and sometimes struggle on, don’t  be robbed of the wonder that makes every day a precious gift and prevents bitterness and discouragement.

 

 

 

 

 

Grit – That tough inner resolve, hard to name but present in all us cowdogs, that works all these traits together for good.  The one that keeps everything else going.  It is the power in the gut and running through the veins of every Heeler.

 

 

 

 

 

And, being a Heeler, of course, always Joy. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you’ll use my list. It’s some pretty good traits we can all use, all the time.  It’ll help keep me  ready for winter or  tough times.

 

And my favorite reminder is this shirt.

 

 

See my picture there? It really says it all about where us cowdogs fit into the heart of our people. Heart and Soul! Grab it right here in my shop:https://cowdogsadvice.com/shop/?orderby=date

or here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnythingForJess?ref=shop_sugg

 

Makes a terrific Christmas gift for Heeler lovers! Jess loves hers,  says it fits perfectly and is great to wear at the new feedstore. Try one on for size and practice Cowdog character my friend!