Don't Put Me in a Box

By: Tessie

Now that our birthday month is over, we (the dogs) are taking back control of this Substack. Mom wrote the last couple of posts about Mala and me to celebrate our birthdays.

In her post about me, Mom mentioned that I exhibit some traits of a typical Australian Cattle Dog (ACD). I'm smart, have a lot of opinions, and can be quite the "velcro" dog. However, I'm unique because I can settle down, be calm, and even enjoy cuddling at times. Although my DNA test indicated that I have almost no “sporting breed,” I do love to play fetch. I’ll repeatedly retrieve my ball, toy, or frisbee and drop it when asked so you can throw it again. It's not an obsession, though. Eventually, I'll return without the ball or toy and be ready to relax on the couch.

I’m not sure who coined the phrase “fight like cats and dogs,” because I’m actually a big fan of cats. In fact, who says dogs can’t cuddle with cats and allow them to wash their faces? I love settling in with Mateo for a good cleaning session or curling up in front of the wood stove with Kali. She can fit her whole body all the way under the wood stove, but I can only get my snout under it. The cats are wonderful companions.

It's also fun to act like a cat sometimes. When I get up on the couch and find something on the arm, like a phone or a remote, I enjoy pushing it off onto the floor with my nose. I know cats usually use their paws for this, but my nose works just as well. I also like to knock the drain cover into the shower when I’m curious about what Mom is doing in the bathroom. I don’t understand why they put it on the edge of the tub when it’s supposed to cover the drain.

Occasionally, I climb all the way under the covers on the bed. One night, I made Mom so worried about me suffocating under there that she kept checking on me until I finally came out hours later.

I enjoy pushing my bones under the couch, a trick I learned from watching the cats. It’s amusing to hide things in hard-to-reach places, which makes the game more interesting. Unfortunately, I soon realize that I can’t reach them myself, so I whine until someone comes to get them for me. The cats have fun toys too, and sometimes I try to grab those, but Mom quickly takes them away. I think she worries I might rip them apart.

Don't let anyone dictate who you should be or how you should act. Embrace your individuality and pursue what makes you happy. Each of us is unique, so focus on being yourself and doing what you truly want. Life is too short to pretend to be someone you're not.