“A warm, engaging, deceptively simple tribute to innate wisdom. May we all learn from such loveable teachers.”

— Dennis Palumbo – screenwriter My Favorite Year, author the Daniel Rinaldi mysteries

 

“A beautiful, heartfelt, and entertaining book, that gives the reader a deep understanding of the profound relationship between the human psyche and the souls of the other animals with whom we share this planet.”

— Linda Buzzell, co-editor Ecotherapy – Healing with Nature in Mind

 

From the Author:

  • Dating Advice from a Crazy Dog Guy
    “Oh no, you’re not one of those, are you?!” We all know the phrase “crazy cat lady,” conjuring images of bathrobed bitties sprinkling cat chow into bowls as hordes of filthy yowling tabbies descend. And we hear more and more of “crazy cat guys” too. But there’s not much talk ... read more
    Published on 2016-05-04
  • Unconditional Love – As Taught by the Four-Legged Masters
    Another Valentine’s Day is upon us – a day when it often appears that everyone else in the world has a perfectly happy committed relationship based in deep, abiding, and playful love. In other words, a day when most of us writhe in disappointment. It’s not that we’re saying we’re ... read more
    Published on 2016-02-19
  • Straying into a Better New Year
      How would you like you like to spend 2016 as contented, as centered, as… your dog?   As a psychotherapist, I spend a lot of time dealing with people and our big-brained problems. On most issues, like how to create a telephone that uses 3D touch to show birds ... read more
    Published on 2016-01-14

From ask

  • Wouldn’t it be Worse! – a way to handle frustrations and disappointment
           I was out walking with Handsome a few days ago, when a car sped past us, cutting off another car, and nearly hitting a parked one.  Handsome muttered to me, “That idiot thinks being late to where he’s going is the worst thing that could happen to him.”        ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-17
  • My Heroes! – the humans I look up to most
             We dogs tend to idolize our humans, so I of course see Handsome as the most wonderful being ever (which coincidentally is just the way he sees me!).  But he’s not my only hero.  I have a lot.           First of all, anyone who gives me food, ever, is ... read more
    Published on 2024-01-08
  • The Boy – and Girl – Next Door: defining the undefinable
    You know those words that you’ve known all your life but are really hard to define to someone?  What does Marriage mean?  How do you define Politics?  And while we’re at it, what is a Neighborhood?  It’s funny how much humans have these words, and use them constantly, without having ... read more
    Published on 2023-11-18
  • Shut Up That Barking! – the epidemic of noise
    Have you ever lived next door to a dog?  Even if you like the pooch, what’s the worst thing about living there?  I’m going to guess it’s the noise.  You’re trying to sleep in and out comes the yowling.  Screaming their head off at some nonsense, like, oh, another dog ... read more
    Published on 2023-10-24
  • When Facts Aren’t Facts … the absurdity of modern testing
             Handsome, my human friend, is sleeping at last.  For a few months, he was barely able to.  And even when he would fall asleep, he’d either be on top of his computer keyboard or holding his laptop in his arms.  He was just frantic.          All this was about ... read more
    Published on 2023-03-29
  • What to do when there’s no one to help you through something
    Vidhi asks: I feel alone and am confused about what to do.  I feel alone even when I’m around family. I just completed school but didn’t earn any friends. I am sitting idly most of the time. Last year I dealt with the death of my childhood friend so I’m ... read more
    Published on 2023-02-27
  • Is it wrong to want your boyfriend to include you?
    kiara123 asks: I’ve been with this boy for almost 2 years now. We’re long distance and I feel like I’ve started to become toxic. I love him a lot but I don’t understand why I get jealous when he’s out partying or planning trips with his friends. I have no ... read more
    Published on 2023-01-23
  • Too Much of a Good Thing? … how to wish better
    Ever heard the old saying “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it?”  I have spent most of the past three weeks indoors.  Not because I’m sick or injured or in trouble (yes those do happen, but not in this case!).  But because it’s been raining here.  ... read more
    Published on 2023-01-17
  • Will I ever be able to love again?
    pkt asks: My boyfriend and I decided to completely break it off. Because of his family, he feels like there is no chance for us in the future and it will be good if we don’t stay friends because that will help him to move on. I still feel little ... read more
    Published on 2023-01-02
  • To Dance in Silence … the majesty of daring it all
                Handsome came home a couple of days ago, more excited than I’d seen him in months.  “You won’t believe what I just saw, Shirelle!  Remember I told you I was going to a ballet?”             Now I have to admit, while I’m often jealous of Handsome’s ability to go ... read more
    Published on 2022-12-11
  • How to deal with an inept parent
    Soumyaguna asks: I have always wanted a good father, at least a sensible one whom I could look up to. Until now, I have been thinking maybe I have given less effort, or maybe I’m not understanding mine, but his ego is so big and it has overshadowed him as ... read more
    Published on 2022-11-28
  • What to do when self-consciousness makes you lose sleep
    Hey Shirelle – School is starting very soon for me. I’m going into 8th grade! Lately it’s been really hard to go to sleep. I’m actually typing this at 3:39 am. I talked with a friend of mine earlier and we started talking about uniforms and stuff. (I go to a ... read more
    Published on 2022-11-21
  • The Pain Worse than Pain – the struggle against stress
                I lost my best friend.             I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to come up with a way to sugarcoat that, but I can’t find one.  Aria’s cancer got better, then worse, then better, and then lots worse, and finally her human friends had to kindly help her ... read more
    Published on 2022-11-17
  • Should you accept someone back after they ghost you?
    Pkt asks: My boyfriend ghosted me almost 10 days ago.  We were together for 2 years, and the  last couple of days I’ve been feeling really terrible. We did have a few small fights before he ghosted me, but we sorted them out so I thought everything was fine (and ... read more
    Published on 2022-11-14
  • Why do our parents irritate us so much!
    Akenn asks: I really love my parents and they love me too but sometimes they bring out the worst in me.  Why am I feeling this? Hi Akenn – What you’re describing isn’t just normal, it’s universal.  It’s been true as long as parents have had children. Think of it ... read more
    Published on 2022-11-07