So recently we went on holiday to Mexico – my first trip and our first holiday featuring lots of sunshine in over 4 years. Our last two summer 'holidays' were in fact to our place here on Salt Spring where we pulled broom and thistles and moved house.
Anyhow, where am I going with this? While on holiday we saw a lot of stray dogs. And actually they were surprisingly well-treated, fed and healthy-looking (if you discount fleas). Apparently this is unusual – but in the town of Todos Santos on the Baja peninsula this was the case.
So, one night, we're having our dinner at a restaurant in town and this dog comes in. Or should I say slinks in.
BUT, when he made eye contact with a human his whole posture changed, his ears pricked up, and in a way I have NEVER in my life seen before the whole lower two-thirds of his body vigorously wagged his tail. He was so vigorous it looked like he was doing "Extreme Cha-cha-cha". He made each human he connected with feel like THE MOST popular and lovable person on the planet.
Of course every human in the place melted under such adoration. And then when he got fed, he went into TOTAL submission. Puppy-dog eyes, soft, laid-back ears and he was so gentle and grateful for every scrap.
Yes, normal dog behaviour. But taken to an extreme I have never seen before – and he was so SUCCESSFUL!
It reminded me of something Dale Carnegie talks about – that the dog is the only animal that doesn't have to work for a living – it earns its place by giving you nothing but love. And Dale Carnegie translated this as "Make friends by being genuinely interested in people."
But it also got me thinking. How we all just want to be loved and appreciated for who we are. And that dog's focus and adoration just said UNCONDITIONALLY "You're fantastic, you're exciting, I LOVE you right just as you are."
I watched the dog do the rounds in the restaurant and not a single human was able to resist his love, enthusiasm and gratitude. In fact if I lived in Mexico, I would have adopted him and called him "Mr Wags".
So, if it's so easy to make us feel good that dogs have it nailed – how come us 'intelligent' humans can make each other so miserable without trying?