The Way of the Crazy Dog

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #1 is: Be Loving and Kind.

Love and kindness is more than a virtue. It is the essence of the Golden Rule and tops The Way of the Crazy Dog tenet list.

There are many definitions and examples one can read online about this tenet and even whole movements, religions, and faiths sharing a core belief about the importance of being loving and kind.

In Christianity, the Bible in Ephesians 4:32 says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

The Dalai Lama says, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” 

Heck, even Bill and Ted say, “Be excellent to each other!”

Studies have also been done that show that dogs, too, can be loving and kind as a part of their nature in being a part of a pack and from behavioral association with their human partners. Other studies have shown that kindness helps our minds and bodies. Being kind can release serotonin and dopamine which are neurotransmitters that can give us a sense of well-being and happiness. The great thing is that showing love and kindness not only affects our own mind/body well-being, but those around us as well.

Practice the Art of Being Kind and Loving. There’s no more important aspect to life than this.

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #2 is: Forgive and Forget.

Have you ever noticed that dogs don’t carry grudges and that they forgive and forget easily?

There are times when we have not been our best selves. We’ve gotten angry and lashed out at others. We’ve hurt others, though we often don’t mean to. You ever see a dog cringe while you are yelling at the kids or while arguing with the spouse? Have you ever yelled at your dog and seen them wince because you simply had a bad day at work?

But what happens after? Does your dog carry a grudge? No. It doesn’t take long before your dog is coming up to you, licking your hand or your face and saying, “I forgive you.” No matter what you’ve done, a dog will forgive you and forget. Sure, if you’re a monster, over time they will live in fear of you as would any human. Your behavior towards others determines whether you are loved of feared.

But dogs seem to possess an almost infinite innate ability to forgive…even when you’ve been your worse self.

Forgiveness is a powerful tenet to learn from your canine friends. Carrying around bitterness, anger, not forgiving others…they have been proven to be harmful to our minds, bodies, and relationships.

In Christianity, the Word of God says in Mark 11:25, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Forgive and forget. Let it go. Make peace with those who’ve wronged you. Learn from your canine friend the art of Forgiving. Forget about yesterday’s challenges and hardships. . . today is a brand new day.

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #3 is: Life is Better with Friends and Family.

Life is lived better with others!

Dogs are pack animals. They want to BELONG. They NEED to belong…it’s in their DNA just as it is in ours.

No one wants to be alone and lonely. We have a deep seated need to be a part of something larger than ourselves, just as our canine friends do.

In Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs, we learn about the essential need for Love and Belonging. Family, friendship,intimacy, and a sense of connection are foundational to our makeup and needs as humans. The Mayo Clinic helps us to understand that friends and family are good for the health. There are so many amazing benefits that we get by maintaining and engaging in positive relationships with those around us.

In Christianity, we come to know so many verses and teachings about the value of friends and family.

In today’s social media and “always connected” digital world, it can seem like we all have millions of “friends and followers” but the reality is that we are becoming even more disconnected, distrustful, and lonely.

Relationships are a vital necessity to well-being, something that dogs know. Unplug yourself from the digital life, grab your dog and get outdoors…go meet the neighbors. Take your four-legged friend to visit that family member you’ve not seen in a while. Go to the park and just connect with others who are there. Just walk up, smile, and say “Hello, it’s good to see you! My name is…”

Find your own pack…your friends and family. Trust your four-legged friend’s wisdom…life is better together!

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #4 is: Play Everyday.

We’ve all probably heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Bob a dull boy?” Dogs know this to be true. Play is an essential part of The Way of the Crazy Dog! (And trust me…as a real guy named Bob…all work and no play really makes one less than happy and balanced.

There are so many benefits to well-being when it comes to play. It can provide benefits to our physical and mental health. It can provide benefits to our relationships. It can help us feel that life is worth living and enhance meaningfulness of life.

Dogs play all the time, whether alone or with others. They can play with a stick found in the yard, or a stone found in the driveway, or with something simple as a sock or tennis ball. They don’t need much to engage in playful activities.

But dogs love to play with others…probably their most enjoyable thing to do. You’ve probably experienced them coming up to you with a ball in their mouth as if say, “hey…let’s play now! C’mon!”

Make time for play. Take your dog out for a romp in the yard. Grab the wife or your kids or visit a friend and play together. Work can wait. Worry and anxiety can disappear while you are playing. You’ll feel so much better for it!

Make routine play a part of your lifestyle choice. It can make such a difference if you choose to embrace a playful spirit and life style.

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #5 is: Get Enough Rest & Relaxation.

Dogs certainly know how important rest and relaxation are. Do you get enough R&R?

In today’s hyper-busy world, we’ve got so much going on. Even when we aren’t busy “moving and shaking” or going to and from work or taking the kids to soccer or Lacrosse, we’re online doom scrolling social media. We need adequate rest.

Resting heals the mind and the body. It helps our body recuperate from daily activities, giving us time for physiological rejuvenation. Rest helps us to turn off daily anxieties and worries and to give our minds a break from the stresses and strains we face each and every day.

Resting can come in many forms, from simple “power naps” to taking a break at work, or full-fledged sleep in bed. It is crucial to well-being that we all get adequate forms of R&R.

The Bible says in Genesis 2:2-3, “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

So if you see your four-legged friend down for a bit of a nap, perhaps take a cue and follow-suit! Don’t short yourself…strive to get adequate rest and relaxation.

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #6 is: Eat Well.

Let’s face it, what dog doesn’t love to eat?

From the occasional Scooby-snack to a scrumptious meal, dogs have at times what seems like a never-ending hearty appetite.

A well-balanced meal fuels the body, providing all the nutrients dogs (and humans) need to sustain our physical bodies. But a meal is more than just nutrients. A meal can provide the right vitamins and minerals to help support our immune systems and provide for wellness.

Over-eating can be unhealthy. This is why it’s important to manage your intake, ensuring that “good goes in” so that we provide the best balanced eating we can for daily living.

But our canine friends are not afraid of enjoying the occasional Scooby-snack, too! A well-timed treat can put a smile on their faces and a wag in their tails! But as the old adage says, “…everything in moderation.” Moderation is a key principle that helps to eat well. Over-eating and a poor diet can lead to unhealthy lifestyles.

Christians may know that the Bible says in Ecclesiates 9:7, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.“

So enjoy eating a well-balanced diet and enjoy the occasional Scooby-snack to help put that wag in your tail!

The Way of the Crazy Dog Tenet #7 is: Learn New Tricks.

Lifelong learning provides so many benefits including helping our mental sharpness and acuity, assists in career and skill development that can help us earn more throughout our lifetimes, and can give us a greater sense of well-being. Continual development, even in learning new hobbies or activities, is a vital habit for successful living.

Look at your body. If you are sedentary, over-eat, and don’t exercise, your physical health diminishes and inhibits your ability to reach your fullest physical potential. It is the same with the mind. Failure to continually stimulate the mind can result in diminished cognitive health. Studies have shown that people can train their brains just as they train their minds and that there is a close relationship to both PHYSICAL exercise and mental exercise relative to increasing or maintaining cognitive health.

There’s this adage that “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks”. But this has been proven false. Old dogs CAN learn new tricks! They just learn at a different pace than younger dogs, given their age and physiology. If you’ve watched the show “Lucky Dogs” on TV or online, you’ve undoubtedly watched episodes where even older dogs are able to learn new tricks and experience new found hope and potential in their lives.

The Bible says in Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…”

Learning is a crucial part of The Way of the Crazy Dog. Learning is essential for all of us whether two-legged or four-legged!