“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
- Unconditional Love – As Taught by the Four-Legged MastersAnother 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
- Straying into a Better New YearHow 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
From 
- Tyna asks: Could you talk to me about self-esteem? You talked about dressing well, etc…. Unfortunately, I don’t even feel like I love myself that much. (I tried to harm myself). I always feel like nothing I wear will look good anyway, as I am not that slim. People seem to prefer slim People, which am not. When I am moving around with my friends, it’s them people will notice, and my head goes back to, “Maybe you are ugly or maybe you look fatter than all of them, and therefore are unattractive.” I don’t know what to do Shirelle.Hi Tyna – My biggest wish for you is that you realize how normal your feelings are. MOST people feel inferior a lot, and almost ALL people have trouble about their appearance. Of course, there are degrees of these things, and if your anxiety is truly overwhelming you, I very much recommend you ... read more
- Tannu asks: My boyfriend has kept me in blindness. He used to tell me that he is very rich. And he has taken my savings from me and said he will return it to me in two three days. But he has not returned it. I loved him so much. I have done whatever he told me to do, but he has lied to me for three years (taking my money, saying his father was ill). When I came to know about the truth he apologized to me and begged me to leave with him. I am in confusion what to do. But on the other side he used to curse me and put finger on my character. He used to tell me that I would leave him for money and didn’t accept his apology because I started liking someone else. Now I don’t want to stay with him, but he’s forcing me to, to get my money back. I don’t know what to do in this situation.Hi Tannu – I have to admit, just from your letter, I’m not liking this fellow very much. He sounds like a total, awful jerk. Not just kind of a jerk. So this is a horrible situation. And there’s no good easy way out of it. ... read more
- Well They Began It! …the hope and despair of intolerance…I don’t pay much attention to politics. Most of it is far too confusing for me. How is a dog, who can’t master basic arithmetic, supposed to figure the costs and benefits of different tax plans? What’s the best policy on drug legalization? How much is the right amount to ... read more
- The little one asks: I have a boyfriend whom I fought with some days ago. We love each other but we fight a lot. Then I got a message from my ex-boyfriend whom I left for my current boyfriend. And when I talked with my ex, I kind of felt very happy. I really want to go meet him. But I don’t know whether this is correct or not. Please suggest.Hi The little one – I really can’t say what you need to do, because I don’t know enough about your relationship, or your current boyfriend. In some relationships, no one would mind at all if the other met up with their ex – especially if it ... read more
- Lila asks: It’s been only two and a half months and he’s asking me to move in with him. We spent the whole summer together, but people are saying it won’t last, that we will be sick of each other. How can I make that not happen?Hi Lila – I’m not sure what you’re asking. Do you want moving in together to not happen, or getting sick of each other to not happen, after you move in together? If it’s the first one, you just have to say no, that you love him and ... read more
- Sazuna6 asks: Recently I’ve been struggling a lot. Without getting into specifics, college applications didn’t work out, a relationship that I was super invested in didn’t work out, (the fact that I am still in love with that person isn’t helping), a lot has been going on in the family, and I’m also clinically depressed so I feel like I’m in this downward spiral. I know most of the sadness or hopelessness comes from the depression itself, but if we were to take that out of the equation for a while, how do you think I can get myself back up? I don’t want to be drowning in self-pity right now. College is starting, I want to be able to have a positive outlook, but everything that’s happened just tore my self-esteem to shreds and I’m not sure how I can put the pieces back together. Any word of advice would be super duper helpfulHi Sazuna6 – I don’t know a lot about what you’re asking in particular – for example, you say that college applications didn’t go well, but then you say that “College is starting” – but I sure do know about self-esteem, and it makes sense that you’re going through ... read more
- Manny asks: I’ve been dating people who are older than me by 5+ years and they all have the same impression about me, that I’m older and wiser than most people they’ve encountered over the years. I’m 19 and I’m really scared of the level of maturity I have because of this. There is this woman I have who believes that I’m 27. She’s 33 and I love her and she also loves me, but I’ve never told her my real age and I already feel like marrying her. What should I do? I don’t care that she’s older; I love her for the kind of person she is. I don’t want to lose her, and I want to have a prosperous marriage with her, but I fear that should she find out or I tell her my real age she’ll dump me. Please help!Hi Manny – This is such an fascinating issue. We dogs are constantly mistaken for different ages, and it’s always interesting to see why. For example, I’ve written a bit about my friend Aria. She’s a mix of many breeds, but her appearance is all like a ... read more
- Susmitha asks: I’m in a relationship with a boy. He is an introverted, nice guy. I trust him very much. We have been in love for three years. We are not married, but we do have physical touch. After some day, I noticed that he had some feelings about my sister. After I asked him, he said that he is loving both of us. Firstly he proposed to my sissy, and she rejected him in front of me. Later he proposed to me to take revenge on my sissy. After she came home, she accepted his proposal but I didn’t know about it. In between that we both had a physical touch (but didn’t go further than that). Over the next three years, he cheated on both me and my sister. We asked him finally whom he wants in his life, who he loved the most. He says that he is in love with me, “I don’t want your sister, I need you in my life. I did wrong but I don’t want to lose you.” They broke up. He promised me after this that after he gets a job, “I will come to your home and I ask your parents to marry you. Until then I will wait for you. Forgive me, I did wrong.” But my sister is not accepting him to be in my life. She says to break up with him. But I don’t want to lose him. I’m so confused. Can I accept him in my life or not. What can I do now? I too need him In my life, and don’t want to lose him, He is somewhat childish, but he is my true love. What can I do now? Please help me.Hi Susmitha – Okay, so yes, there’s a real problem here. Your sister is telling you what to do, and you’re struggling with whether to obey her or go with your interest in this guy. This is one of those situations where one’s culture really matters. I ... read more
- Danish asks: As you suggested, I asked that girl in an indirect way why she doesn’t want to marry. I feel her answer is based in fear, that she wants to achieve something big In life. She’s scared while she thinks about her future. She doesn’t want to depend on boys for her survival. She is ambitious and she wants an independent life. And she does have feelings for me, as she told one of our mutual friends, and will accept me after being successful. So here I want to ask you how to make my emotional connections stronger now, as she doesn’t know that I know she has a feeling for me – but without letting her know what her friend told me?Hi Danish – Wow, this is a fascinating situation! It feels like it should be part of a romantic comedy movie, maybe a musical, but I don’t think it’s ever been made. The woman is focused on her career, the man wants to win her, so he works to convince ... read more
- Athika asks: I’m a female and I’ve been in a serious relationship with one boy for a few months. My problem is that I still talk with my classmate whom I used to love and admire a lot. I met with my classmate, which caused serious impact on our relationship. My partner got to know about this and was ready to leave. I just want to stay away from my classmate because I know I seriously love my friend. What should I do now?Hi Athika – I just want to clarify your question, to make sure I understand what’s going on. If I have it right, you’ve been in a relationship with a boy for a few months, but you also have a classmate you have loved and admired, and your ... read more
- Satapathy asks: I had a past sex relationship with my ex-boyfriend. Now I’m going to marry a new person. He is very honest, well-behaved, cultured, loyal. I want to tell him everything about my past, but I know that after knowing this he will leave me. But I don’t want to play with his emotions. What can I do?Hi Satapathy – This is as tough an issue as exists. As any dog can tell you, the key to relationships is trust. That’s why we’re so loyal. That way, when we break a rule (like when I took that pizza off the counter last week), our humans can ... read more
- PERFECTION asks: My friends always told me that I shouldn’t even try to be with this girl. They say she’s too good for me as she’s perfect, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed it. Should I be worried that she’s too good for me? And also, Is there even such a thing about money defines to whom are we going to be with?.Hi PERFECTION – We talked before about what I consider perfection, and what you consider perfection. But now you’re talking about social status. Some people are considered very good-looking, and so only want to date people also considered very good-looking. Some people are super-popular, and only want to ... read more
- Melanin asks: I am a 21-year-old lady who got into a relationship with a 24-yr-old gentleman for 5 months, and now he mentions he was scared to let me know he was already in 3 other relationships, but he decided to choose me so he’s working on ending the rest. And now I find myself liking a high school crush of mine again who appeared recently and treating me all nicely, saying he’s serious about me and want us to have a serious relationship. I don’t know what to do. How can you help me?Hi Melanin – You’re in that crazy situation I dream of, where someone puts a pizza on the floor at one end of a room, and someone else puts a lamb chop on the floor at the other end, and I have to decide which way to run. Especially as ... read more
- PERFECTION asks: Do you believe in destiny? That at some point in our lives we are meant for someone (predestined, inevitable) to be the person that’ll be my lifetime companion? Or is it the other way around? I am the one who makes my own destiny. What do you think?Hi PERFECTION – Simple answer: I have no idea. What you’re really asking is a big theological question about Cause: Is there a cause behind anything, and if so, what does that Cause cause? Is life on Earth an accident or was it intended? Do humans (or other ... read more
- majority asks: what will I do to have an encounter with God?Hi majority – I’m just a dog, and not a theologian. But my answer to your question would be to ask you what your sense of God is. Lots of people feel God’s presence when they pray, or when they hear beautiful music, or when they experience children ... read more