As I thought about my dogs needing weekends I am reminded of the dogs I see daily left in the backyard staked to a tree with a rope or a chain attached to their collar. Or the more fortunate ones that are just left gated in all day. I mused why do people get dogs and how do I feel about my dogs?

Dogs are inherently a pack animal requiring socialization with other pack members. We humans took them from that pack environment and determine that natural companionable personality is best served being with us. But dogs are intended to something. All animals are “intended” to do something. More recently we have heard the Dog Whisperer reminding us what dogs need from us humans and how we can meet the needs of our four legged furry companion.

I have English Springer Spaniels. I fell in love with the breed and in hindsight I see I should have done my homework before bringing them home. But 10 ½ years ago I was introduced to two tiny furry balls of energy. Anyone who knows dogs are aware these are high energy hunting dogs. I am not a hunter.

My first pair of Springers came with “papers”. This means that in their background they have champion “hunting” genes hard wired into the brain, big time. I am not saying this to impress you, I am saying this so you know the revelations I came to when I say, dogs need weekends too.

And so when my two litter mates were about 18 months old and their hard wiring was kicking in I had no idea what to do. I was living in Belgium at the time and the vet who delivered these gorgeous dogs was my attending vet. However, due to the fact that my Dutch was measurable at best I did not ask many questions. One day he asked me to stay to talk about my dogs and as he asked me how I was doing I felt huge alligator sized tears well up as I spilled out how unruly they were and a menace in my home. Reassuring me, he directed me to a place I could run my dogs off leash and hopefully get some energy off because as many dog owners know, a tired dog is a good dog. And these guys were born to run!

But alas, I still had no doggie experience. So I found a newsgroup about Springers that directed my reading to a woman named Turid Rugaas who taught the concept of Calming Signals. She said dogs like all pack animals send out signals to each other to cohabit together. So I learned these signals and soon I was reading the language! Communicating finally in a language they knew!

And while it helped me I still could not fulfill the hunting need. They would run in the fields but I had no command. One day as I was walking in the field trying to find my dogs running amok I happened upon a Frenchman who spoke little English but enough to offer me some advice on commanding hunting dogs. Showed me how to use a whistle, hand signals and body language to get my dogs to do what they do best. Field for birds! Because you see, no matter how much we love a dog we have to take in consideration what they are bred to do and fulfill that job in them. If not, specifically as in this case, hunting or some job around the home. Dogs are never happy staked to a tree, left alone without companionship of other pack members, they need their humans often.

And a miracle happened! It is like these two wonderful dogs were waiting for me to get it. It was like…it was like poetry in motion! OH man, you should have seen them work! I would walk as they coursed in front of me. Very subtle, ever so subtle, turning an eye to me to see where I was leading them and with a slight nod of the head or a finger movement along with the words “this way” they followed and worked and worked and worked those fields every day for an hour rain or shine (Springers love rainy days) sometimes twice a day but always soul satisfied when they were done. Me too! Finally I found their job.

Then I moved back home, to America, and dogs were on leash and barking at fences or each other as neighborhood dogs passed each other on the road and a new lesson had to be taught to them as well as me. And now the job they have is to get those dang squirrels out of my trees, alert me when man or beast is within close perimeter and they walk twice a day with me to smell the neighborhood, taking of care of me! I figure if I need exercise how much more so does a dog that is bred to move and be active! And if I get too busy I see them moping around and my husband says we need to take the dogs for walk in the park or take them for a drive. Because you see, just as we need breaks in our week so do dogs! And every time we do this we can feel their appreciation coming off them. Almost like saying, thanks, I needed that!

I think what I have learned about dogs (since before I met these Springers I have had cats) is, that dogs take an active part in their human pack. Now every time I meet a dog I know what to expect from their breed background.

And now dear reader, I am off to walk my furry rat muffins because they have patiently waited here under my desk to get out in the spring morning of sunshine, squirrels and birds.

If you have a dog story to share with me please do! I am a “dyed in the wool” dog person now for over a decade and like my children or grandchildren and can talked about them or yours forever! So share!