Lessons We Have Learned From Our Beagle

This is a Dickinson family post. I started writing this but was so happy to have all of us contribute to this together! 

Meet Malley.  She is a wonderful and loving beagle. She is by her desire and design a “lap-beagle.” My daughters have described her as being like “a stuffed animal that breathes!” She was named after our favorite chocolate and ice-cream store in Cleveland. She is, as you can see, somewhat chocolate colored. She is clearly a key member of our family. More than that she has taught us a lot of important lessons about life.

Here is the growing list of lessons.  We hope you enjoy it. Feel free to add your own suggestions back via the comments or reply tabs.

Life Lessons From Malley:

• Whenever you can, just go sit beside the people you love.
• Get really excited when people come home. It makes both of you feel so good.
• Treats are really good. If you like something there is no shame in being very happy about it and letting it show. In fact, it makes the person who is giving you the treats feel happy just to see you get so happy.
• It is really fun to go for a walk. Always say, “yes” to an offer for a walk.
• Sometimes you just need to play. Don’t be afraid to pounce onto people in a playful manner to get them to stop being so serious and so that they will play with you.
• If someone you love is sitting down it is always a good idea to go love on them.
• It feels good to have someone scratch behind your ears. Insist that they do it. Or in human terms, insist on physical touch with your loved ones frequently and regularly. Hugs should be a vital part of your day. (Hugs are a big part of what it means to be a Dickinson.)
• If you have free time take a nap.
• If you see sunshine go lay down in it. It feels really wonderful.
• Get excited about your dinner. That too makes people feel happy who are serving it to you.
• Wag your tail if you are happy. Let your emotions show. Don’t hide them.
• Growl if people are acting scary. They need to know that they are scaring you.
• It is fun to climb on the sofa and put your head over the side and just look outside (in the classic Snoopy vulture position).
• Take the time to just look outside. Don’t be afraid to just rest your head on the window sill and stair out at the beautiful outside.
• Protect those you love. If you think they are threatened bark loudly to scare the bad people away from them.
• Demand your loved one’s undivided attention. Push their computer or phone off their laps or out of their hands. They really shoud be paying attention to you instead.
• If a friend comes over take them outside and play.
• Don’t accept being ignored by your family. Even if you have to push your nose up against them, they are your family and they are supposed to be paying attention to you.
• Chipmunks are infuriating. Don’t let yourself be tortured by what you can’t control. (Malley is still struggling to learn this one but I put it in because I wish she would learn it and have some more peace in her life!)
• Sometimes it’s ok to be so distracted happily smelling the ground in front of you that you forget to bark at the deer in the distance. It’s ok to let the little beautiful things and joys around you distract you from the big adventures that are still far way.
• A day on a sailboat with love ones is always a day well spent (even if dinner is delayed)!

The biggest lesson is to love your family with all of your being. Hug them. Wiggle in glee when you see them. Do not let them away from you. LOVE THEM!

We hope that you enjoyed this post. Would you think about your own furry friend(s)? If you have more to add to this list please leave a comment or reply. The comment box is below some more Malley pictures. Thanks!