Love wrapped in fur

Having a pet can be such a gift. Our cockapoo, Rocky, is now fourteen years of age and is a constant reminder of unconditional love. He demonstrates how to live in the moment. Whatever is happening now is all that matters. I find this to be especially true when it comes to our daily walks. The world is only a nose away for him and the world is filled with new smells and scents every time we walk. I find it fascinating that he is not distracted by the presence of other animals such as nearby squirrels and birds. He does want to stop and greet other dogs who are walking with their masters. He quickly figures out who is friend and who is foe. I constantly ask him what he is thinking for I know that his mind is not void of thought. If I tell him to go fetch his fox, I can see the wheels of thought turning and off he goes to bring that specific toy for play. He provides an opportunity for me to learn unconditional caring when he is not feeling well. He teaches me how well he communicates his needs and what I need to do to respond to them. If you have a pet, think about how he or she models ways to be in the world. What can you learn from what you are seeing?