Dogs are God's greatest gift to us. We live on a small farm we developed out of timberland, and we have 6 loving pooches running around, 2 of them elderly and the time to let them go is not far off. It will be hard.
This sounds like paradise. I am sorry about the two elderly pooches, but it sounds at though they not only lived on this paradise, but helped turn it into paradise.
Bravo. Love your work and the connection to assent in this essay. I’m 60. In grainy family photos from a half century ago it’s always a bunch of people and I remember something about most of them, but I remember everything about the dog that is next to me. All these years later dogs have been such a magic addition to my life. I literally look forward to getting home from work to see our dogs in part because I know they will assent to me and disregard all the f-ups and flaws that have been so apparent to me during the day.
Beautifully said (especially the last part) and I genuinely appreciate it. The relationship you're talking about at the end of the day feels to me like a great reset - all that matters is existing right now with them, and being decent, and being honest, and somehow that turns into this epic bond. Thank you for sharing.
What captured my attention was the Natufian hunter-gatherer woman. How did that occur? What societal norms had been in place that being buried with a dog was considered acceptable/desirable? And it turns out it was just a puppy of 3-5 months. It must be significant as they have found two other burial sites of Natufian's with dogs. And how? Did they both just happen to die at the same time? Were they injured by a wild animal attack and that is why they are buried together? Was the pup sacrificed to protect her in the afterlife? So many questions. And if it was just that the dog had become significant to the person buried, it must have been important enough to the tribe to bury her/him (they couldn't definitively determine) with the puppy. Fascinating story.
For myself: We have had 12 dogs over the last 40 years. For the last 30, we have tried to have at least four at a time. That number works well for us. With the exception of my first dog who is buried at my childhood home, the rest have been cremated and currently reside in my desk credenza. When I go, I too will be cremated, and we will all be buried together. They are my babies, my family, my heart. We got our last dog in September of 2023. Most of our dogs live to be 17 years old. So, 17 years from last year, will put us at 78 years old. Knowing that fact makes it crucial that our babies don't have to go to other homes or worse, put down, after we pass. I couldn't bear that thought. It means, that for many years we will only have the puppy, the latest, as our companion. Our oldest is 14, the next 12 and the youngest of the boys is 8. Our puppy, our little girl, is 17 months.
Thank you for the great article. I could never have expressed what you have so eloquently.
The care you put into your pups, particularly in making sure they will not be in an unfortunate position 17 years from now, is truly touching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I wondered about the Natufian woman as well. My best guess is that their dogs suffered a similar mortality rate as their children, and this puppy - maybe one she was fond of - happened to pass when she did. The lack of similar burials makes me think it unlikely it was a sacrifice, but who knows. Much to think on here.
Mortality rates. How interesting... I literally was reading a work of fiction by S. M. Sterling early this morning and he was writing of mortality rates c. 163 AD (although he used C.E. and I oppose that change) which were at best 50% or more in children. Women might give birth 12 times throughout their lives and only have 4-5 attain adulthood. Such sadness.
They have also found another grave, relatively close by of the aforementioned woman, and it was a human and a fox burial. So interesting. I find so many things interesting; I just wish I had the time and the brain capacity to absorb it all.
The love our dogs give us, the looks, the expression in their eyes, anthropomorphism be damned. I say not only do they have souls, but they have the best souls. And as Cesar Milan, regardless of what anyone says about him, said it best... there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners. Well, I paraphrase.
In the end, sometimes, many times, I say, I prefer dogs over most people.
Thank you Alan! I genuinely wonder what the old man Epictetus would have thought... At the least, I do not think he would judge too harshly; at the best, I think he would assent as well.
I agree, and I like the conclusion you came to in your essay: that we’re not meant to be machines or statues, and have to be careful not take those we love for granted if we’re to get the most we can out of life.
Oscar had to cross the bridge in June 2022 - his heart just couldn’t carry him any longer. I wailed when he fell silent in our laps at the vet. Just wailed. And right now I’m a bit weepy.
That said, with the sensory details you offered I have within me an echo of that little dachshund, and how lovable and truly memorable he still is within my heart and mind. And I smile, reaching a figurative hand toward him, resting it softly upon his chest.
Responding to this as I watch my two shepherds sleep, what a lovely essay, Sam! It speaks to those of us who cannot imagine a life without dogs by our side. Also, I just returned from Mexico City where I was interested to learn the power of dogs, as healers and death walkers, in Mexica culture. And also...appreciate that you made the assumption the remains were female (!)
Great writing Sam! 👏 The process ("planned selection") by which homo sapiens transformed canis lupus into the fabulous canis familiaris is miraculous. Gee, I might have to write something about that. Thanks for the inspiration!
I think he does have part beagle, and maybe part pointer. All sort of breeds in this guy. He is a hunter by nature but I do not think he would have a clue what to do if he actually caught anything, which is very amusing. Are you a beagle fan?
Our beagle, Felix, is the oldest of our two current dogs. Doesn't listen too well during walks if he's got something else on his mind. Also had a part-beagle Navajo reservation dog, Caeli, in a previous dog generation. They both are/were extraordinarily independent-minded and couldn't be rushed through walks (too much to investigate). Caeli liked nothing better than literally rolling in pigshit. She also, at the peak of her strength and fitness, could climb up vertical chainlink fences and go off freely on her own (hence, the pigshit rolling opportunities). Like you've obviously observed with Carson, all the many dogs we've had living with us definitely enjoy/enjoyed living (and put it to good use). The beagle frequency in our family history is accidental, though, and is not fan-based -- both cases were unplanned adoptions. Both beagle bloods were obviously inveterate wanderers until they wandered into our proximity and got themselves adopted. In Felix's case his former younger owners voluntarily relinquished his guardianship after he kept coming to our house. Once they started having children, the attention they could pay to Felix pretty much vanished and he was left to his own devices pretty much all the time. In the rez dog case, Caeli had no owners, was starving (and therefore losing her fur) when our kids picked her up off the side of the highway and then left her with us.
True rescues. I love it. And the shit rolling aspect never ceases to amaze me. Nothing I have ever done has taught him that rolling in it is not a good idea. On the other hand, maybe he is wiser than me and it serves a purpose in nature for stalking or whatever. Appreciate you sharing.
“I can see myself racked in torment when he is no longer at my side as I sit, and I lose control, and I realize I will never smell him, or see him, or hear his claws clicking on the floor ever again, and yet still I assent.”
I know it, Dee. There are a lot of "assenting" voices out there as well. For all the talk about the many problems of today, there is something incredibly satisfying in this.
So beautiful ~ thank you Sam ! I've had the sweetest honor to assent along side many. Some 2 leggeds have not understood my relentless love for dogs so I keep it simple and remind them that dogs remind me there is only this moment . . . Now it's a Welsh Corgi named Holly that I share countless assenting moments with . . . much Love
My dog and I walk the streets and parks of a busy urban neighborhood, yet I recognize every moment you capture in this essay. He has inoperable cancer. Too soon I’ll have to let him go and will see him everywhere in deepest sorrow. I wouldn’t have missed this love for anything.
I'm sorry Rona. I've been there as well, and you said it beautifully: that depth of love isn't worth giving up for anything. There are few things better in life than knowing it.
I’m reminded often when I read philosophy (and most life advice, really) of a dog trainer whose methods a client deemed overly harsh. When asked why he was so tyrannical, he responded that in his experience, his clients enacted about a tenth of what he told them. By dialing up his instruction by 100%, most people would end up right where they needed to be for success.
I think you keyed in on the same principle with why you think Epictetus would agree with you on dogs.
That is the perfect analogy. I believe he was brutal for that exact reason - if he only made marginal improvement in his students, mission accomplished. Thank you Lou.
Dogs are dogs, which makes them the best people you’ll ever meet.
Literally made me laugh out loud. The truth.
Sam you have perfectly captured the essence of my life with Lola. What a wonderful and mysterious relationship it is. I assent.
The bond is perfection. Thank you, Matt. All the best to Lola.
Dogs are God's greatest gift to us. We live on a small farm we developed out of timberland, and we have 6 loving pooches running around, 2 of them elderly and the time to let them go is not far off. It will be hard.
This sounds like paradise. I am sorry about the two elderly pooches, but it sounds at though they not only lived on this paradise, but helped turn it into paradise.
Bravo. Love your work and the connection to assent in this essay. I’m 60. In grainy family photos from a half century ago it’s always a bunch of people and I remember something about most of them, but I remember everything about the dog that is next to me. All these years later dogs have been such a magic addition to my life. I literally look forward to getting home from work to see our dogs in part because I know they will assent to me and disregard all the f-ups and flaws that have been so apparent to me during the day.
Beautifully said (especially the last part) and I genuinely appreciate it. The relationship you're talking about at the end of the day feels to me like a great reset - all that matters is existing right now with them, and being decent, and being honest, and somehow that turns into this epic bond. Thank you for sharing.
What captured my attention was the Natufian hunter-gatherer woman. How did that occur? What societal norms had been in place that being buried with a dog was considered acceptable/desirable? And it turns out it was just a puppy of 3-5 months. It must be significant as they have found two other burial sites of Natufian's with dogs. And how? Did they both just happen to die at the same time? Were they injured by a wild animal attack and that is why they are buried together? Was the pup sacrificed to protect her in the afterlife? So many questions. And if it was just that the dog had become significant to the person buried, it must have been important enough to the tribe to bury her/him (they couldn't definitively determine) with the puppy. Fascinating story.
For myself: We have had 12 dogs over the last 40 years. For the last 30, we have tried to have at least four at a time. That number works well for us. With the exception of my first dog who is buried at my childhood home, the rest have been cremated and currently reside in my desk credenza. When I go, I too will be cremated, and we will all be buried together. They are my babies, my family, my heart. We got our last dog in September of 2023. Most of our dogs live to be 17 years old. So, 17 years from last year, will put us at 78 years old. Knowing that fact makes it crucial that our babies don't have to go to other homes or worse, put down, after we pass. I couldn't bear that thought. It means, that for many years we will only have the puppy, the latest, as our companion. Our oldest is 14, the next 12 and the youngest of the boys is 8. Our puppy, our little girl, is 17 months.
Thank you for the great article. I could never have expressed what you have so eloquently.
The care you put into your pups, particularly in making sure they will not be in an unfortunate position 17 years from now, is truly touching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I wondered about the Natufian woman as well. My best guess is that their dogs suffered a similar mortality rate as their children, and this puppy - maybe one she was fond of - happened to pass when she did. The lack of similar burials makes me think it unlikely it was a sacrifice, but who knows. Much to think on here.
Mortality rates. How interesting... I literally was reading a work of fiction by S. M. Sterling early this morning and he was writing of mortality rates c. 163 AD (although he used C.E. and I oppose that change) which were at best 50% or more in children. Women might give birth 12 times throughout their lives and only have 4-5 attain adulthood. Such sadness.
They have also found another grave, relatively close by of the aforementioned woman, and it was a human and a fox burial. So interesting. I find so many things interesting; I just wish I had the time and the brain capacity to absorb it all.
The love our dogs give us, the looks, the expression in their eyes, anthropomorphism be damned. I say not only do they have souls, but they have the best souls. And as Cesar Milan, regardless of what anyone says about him, said it best... there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners. Well, I paraphrase.
In the end, sometimes, many times, I say, I prefer dogs over most people.
Indeed, much to think on.
It can rack the mind sometimes... but the dog cuts through it all.
Great read Sam. I also still assent! 🐶
Thank you Alan! I genuinely wonder what the old man Epictetus would have thought... At the least, I do not think he would judge too harshly; at the best, I think he would assent as well.
I agree, and I like the conclusion you came to in your essay: that we’re not meant to be machines or statues, and have to be careful not take those we love for granted if we’re to get the most we can out of life.
Oscar had to cross the bridge in June 2022 - his heart just couldn’t carry him any longer. I wailed when he fell silent in our laps at the vet. Just wailed. And right now I’m a bit weepy.
That said, with the sensory details you offered I have within me an echo of that little dachshund, and how lovable and truly memorable he still is within my heart and mind. And I smile, reaching a figurative hand toward him, resting it softly upon his chest.
That is a beautiful memory, Chuck. These beasts work wonders on us.
Responding to this as I watch my two shepherds sleep, what a lovely essay, Sam! It speaks to those of us who cannot imagine a life without dogs by our side. Also, I just returned from Mexico City where I was interested to learn the power of dogs, as healers and death walkers, in Mexica culture. And also...appreciate that you made the assumption the remains were female (!)
You're very welcome. This trip to Mexico sounds amazing. Can you share more? Was this solely to learn about their cultures relationship with dogs?
Great writing Sam! 👏 The process ("planned selection") by which homo sapiens transformed canis lupus into the fabulous canis familiaris is miraculous. Gee, I might have to write something about that. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you. And that will be an epic essay!
Carson looks part Beagle, which, if true, explains a lot of your experiences with him. They definitely have their own personal business to conduct.
I think he does have part beagle, and maybe part pointer. All sort of breeds in this guy. He is a hunter by nature but I do not think he would have a clue what to do if he actually caught anything, which is very amusing. Are you a beagle fan?
Our beagle, Felix, is the oldest of our two current dogs. Doesn't listen too well during walks if he's got something else on his mind. Also had a part-beagle Navajo reservation dog, Caeli, in a previous dog generation. They both are/were extraordinarily independent-minded and couldn't be rushed through walks (too much to investigate). Caeli liked nothing better than literally rolling in pigshit. She also, at the peak of her strength and fitness, could climb up vertical chainlink fences and go off freely on her own (hence, the pigshit rolling opportunities). Like you've obviously observed with Carson, all the many dogs we've had living with us definitely enjoy/enjoyed living (and put it to good use). The beagle frequency in our family history is accidental, though, and is not fan-based -- both cases were unplanned adoptions. Both beagle bloods were obviously inveterate wanderers until they wandered into our proximity and got themselves adopted. In Felix's case his former younger owners voluntarily relinquished his guardianship after he kept coming to our house. Once they started having children, the attention they could pay to Felix pretty much vanished and he was left to his own devices pretty much all the time. In the rez dog case, Caeli had no owners, was starving (and therefore losing her fur) when our kids picked her up off the side of the highway and then left her with us.
True rescues. I love it. And the shit rolling aspect never ceases to amaze me. Nothing I have ever done has taught him that rolling in it is not a good idea. On the other hand, maybe he is wiser than me and it serves a purpose in nature for stalking or whatever. Appreciate you sharing.
“I can see myself racked in torment when he is no longer at my side as I sit, and I lose control, and I realize I will never smell him, or see him, or hear his claws clicking on the floor ever again, and yet still I assent.”
Been there and done that and I assent still. 🙏❤️
I know it, Dee. There are a lot of "assenting" voices out there as well. For all the talk about the many problems of today, there is something incredibly satisfying in this.
Dogs are possibly the only animals that can teach us what unconditional love is. Thanks for posting, Sam.
100% truth. You are very welcome, Charles.
So beautiful ~ thank you Sam ! I've had the sweetest honor to assent along side many. Some 2 leggeds have not understood my relentless love for dogs so I keep it simple and remind them that dogs remind me there is only this moment . . . Now it's a Welsh Corgi named Holly that I share countless assenting moments with . . . much Love
My dog and I walk the streets and parks of a busy urban neighborhood, yet I recognize every moment you capture in this essay. He has inoperable cancer. Too soon I’ll have to let him go and will see him everywhere in deepest sorrow. I wouldn’t have missed this love for anything.
I'm sorry Rona. I've been there as well, and you said it beautifully: that depth of love isn't worth giving up for anything. There are few things better in life than knowing it.
Enuf said.
Well said, Barry.
I’m reminded often when I read philosophy (and most life advice, really) of a dog trainer whose methods a client deemed overly harsh. When asked why he was so tyrannical, he responded that in his experience, his clients enacted about a tenth of what he told them. By dialing up his instruction by 100%, most people would end up right where they needed to be for success.
I think you keyed in on the same principle with why you think Epictetus would agree with you on dogs.
That is the perfect analogy. I believe he was brutal for that exact reason - if he only made marginal improvement in his students, mission accomplished. Thank you Lou.