cowdog code Archives - A Cowdogs Advice

When Ladysmith turned this platform over to me, she reminded me especially, to count it all joy, as she did every day.

I hope I live up to her lofty expectation, considering my days are filled with such adventures as chasing horses, [often on my own!], rolling in unknown smelly green stuff, harassing and herding cats if I can, and howling and yipping at the bosses, to redirect them to the correct Heeler Way.

I’m always really busy and have a long list of to-do’s. But I try to remember the rules Lady gave me. She had some great Ladysmith Lists, and some good Cowdog Commandments to make this journey brighter.

So I try every morning, as I lay on the porch and watch the sunrise, to chew on advice from the cowdog’s code, like a good bone:

Make peace with your past so it won’t disturb your present.

2. Time heals almost everything.

3. No one is responsible for your happiness – except you.

4. Smile – there are a whole lot of problems out there in the world that aren’t yours.

5. You’re never too old to dream a new dream.

6. Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

7. The strongest among us are those who are still kind after the world has torn them apart.

8. Savor every sunrise, sunset, summer storm and fresh bone. There are just too few of such moments to miss!

Lady loaned me her wisdom, leaving it in my capable paws, to practice and pass on.

As she pointed out, I’m a Heeler – what could possibly go wrong?

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Well, folks, we have rain.

It rained all night, and we have more rain forecast, the typical late afternoon mountain summer storms. It cooled off a bit this time around, too. I sure don’t like the thunder and lightening, but the rain is a blessing – most of the hay is up for now and much of the grain is harvested. Lightening started a few fires, and heavy downpours put out a few. There was a big fire to the west, burning from the shores of a big lake right up to the shore of a small lake where mom used to live. And now with school starting, it is time for Miss Manners again.

With heat and drought, or too much rain and flash floods, or storms, swarms of locusts and every other trial and tribulation, sometimes it is easy to twist off and give up. Easy to lower the bar and care a little less. Those are, however, the times when we should hold tighter to our code and carry on with strength and endurance instead.

One of the foundations to living life with a standard, a code, is manners. Of course, saying “please” and “thank you” won’t necessarily fix things when the going gets tough, but being decent sure helps when everyone gets irritable, testy, fearful when the world falls apart.

I see a decided lack of manners these days. When did it become OK to just be rude and mean? When I was a pup, I would’ve gotten a growl and a nip, at least, for acting poorly, and I think a lot of people could use a little “redirection” now. Remember “if you can’t say something nice , then say nothing at all!” – a good rule to follow for everyone. No one needs to be the target of a nasty, self-centered attitude.

We dogs are able to greet each other with a smile and proper ‘good morning”, wag a tail, not interrupt, compliment, show some civility – shouldn’t people do the same? I learned to “Sit and stay” at a young age, and it seems like young humans should, too.

School is starting, and there will be many kids that haven’t even learned “Sit and stay.” Then teachers have to try to teach them basic manners before they are ready to learn. Maybe parents don’t know how, so get a manual like this: https://amzn.to/3fCqrcQ

Can we return to a place where adults have these skills? Everyone needs”please and thank you”, eye contact and a smile. “Excuse me or pardon me” are good phrases to know as well. Be engaged with a person, look ’em in the eye, put the phone away!

Listen. And watch your language. Words matter, quit being rude and stop cussing. Develop a better vocabulary, and notice that those around you , especially the young, may be influenced by you and what you say. Make it positive, make it count for good. Start sending greeting cards, and sincerely write [in cursive!] words of encouragement.

Always send a thank you note, right away! https://amzn.to/3PPj410

Brush your teeth, comb your hair, look your best and wear clothes – PJ’s and slippers are NOT suitable attire in public! What happened to dressing in a nice and modest manner? Nobody wants to see your underwear or bad tattoo!

Of course, a tattoo like this is considered in excellent taste anywhere!

Along with a Code to hang on the wall and follow, maybe a good book on etiquette would help people learn a few rules. Now I understand that parents need to teach a kid how to set a table and how to behave in a restaurant, but if that hasn’t been done, I think we all have a responsibility to learn elsewhere.

So try this book for starters. https://amzn.to/3pO39W5

Maybe parents can’t teach it because they don’t have a foundation themselves; here is some guidance for them, too:

https://amzn.to/3RsNXtp

Now I’m a country dog, and I don’t wear a collar unless I’m riding in the truck somewhere. A good collar, though, sure helps with learning manners and paying attention. It gives your humans security that a good dog won’t get lost or run away. It is important to learn how to wear it with pride and intelligence. Mine is tough, holds my tags and enhances the beautiful Heeler colors around it. It’s a Carhartt to match dad’s ranch coat!

https://amzn.to/3wTtO7Z

I don’t go for the really fancy ones,