Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun

by Christa Riley

Dogs, just as you, just want to have fun! They are pleasurably silly, despite breed, age or sex. What’s so humoristic about these traits is the unique, yet typical, canniness of them. There’s no question why pet owners love their dogs with such adoration.

Share Life with You!
What many dogs display in their behavior is their desire to be like you and to share in all that you do. After all, not many dogs think of themselves as canines, but they think of themselves as a member of the family, just as anyone else in the home. Nonetheless, there are just some things your comical dog does that you simply can’t avoid.

They clearly think their witty courses of action are exciting entertainment for themselves, and maybe even for you too, despite the annoyance some of their behaviors bring. What’s so amazing is no matter what your dog does, you can’t help from cherishing every amusing moment they bring about into your life.

If your dog could truly understand your every word, some of what you might tell them would be similar to the rules a teacher implements in the classroom for young children. I attempt to convey to my dogs a great deal of things, which of course never ring true. You may equally find yourself telling your dog some of the same things.

Clarify the Rules
What my dogs merely don’t understand is the rules of our home. Rules such as, the dishes with paw prints on them contain their food, and all of the other dishes are strictly mine. Placing their paws in the center of my plate is not going to stake a claim for the food to become theirs. Nor do I find this act aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

Fundamentally attempting to protect my own safety, I tell the dogs the stairway is not designed by NASCAR and isn’t a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom isn’t the object, and tripping me won’t help because I fall faster than they can run. Nevertheless, I still must keep a sturdy grip to the railing since without understanding they decide racing is much more fun.

I’m unable buy a bed larger than a king size, but even still, they believe I’ll sleep on the couch to ensure their comfort, when in fact I purchased pet beds just for them. The beds are soft and cushiony, and yet I wake up nearly every morning hanging halfway off only to look over and see my dogs peacefully sprawled across the entire bed.

During one of my more petulant moments, I literally say to the dogs, “For the last time, there is no secret entrance to the bathroom!” If I am able to triumphantly shut the door before they make it there, they consider it necessary to put their paws beneath the door, as if I don’t already know they’re there. I mockingly think to myself, I have to exit through the same door I entered, I know as I’ve used the bathroom for years; and canine attendance is not a requirement for this task.

The Proper Order of Kissing
Now, my dogs thoroughly enjoy kissing me. However, they don’t quite grasp the cleanliness issue, or understand the proper order of kissing. How do you tell your pet to kiss you first and then go smell the other dog’s butt; not the other way around? I can’t stress this enough to my dogs, but it never hits home, as their desires are quite opposite from my own. I often wonder what the comparison is between the smelling and the kissing, but in most cases, I don’t think I really want to know that answer.

So far, they still roll around in foul odors in the backyard, and then come inside to rub their bodies all of the carpet and furniture; it never seizes to amaze me. They must have some sort of goal to ensure my home smells as much like outdoors as it possibly can. At least that’s what I have come to the realization of. Purchasing odor masking products at the store is a natural part of life in my home.

Playing Catch
To me, playing fetch consists of throwing the ball for my dogs bringing it back to me. As for my dogs, they think the object of the game is to fetch the ball and then watch me chase them around to retrieve the ball back. I’m quite certain they’re aware of their ability to get the better of me in this instance.

Despite all the unnatural courses of actions my dogs take, they’re still my beloved friends, and in all fairness to my dear dogs I honor their presence. When visitors come to my home I tell them the pets in my home have seniority, so they must be aware of a few simple rules the dogs themselves implement. Therefore, if you don’t want hair on your clothes, then stay off of the furniture. After all, that is why it’s called ‘fur’-niture.

Believe me when I tell you I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. To you, they are animals, but to me they’re my adopted hairy children who walk on all fours. Perhaps it’s just me, but I still lead myself to believe that most of you endure the same acts of kindness that my dogs display in your own homes as well.

Christa Riley is a freelance writer who loves dogs. She works with the Doggy Doodles Adoptions Animal Rescue (www.doggydoodlesadoptionsinc.org/), an animal rescue, made up of volunteers who are dedicated to the rescue of St. Louis’ Homeless Pet Population. They focus on educating adopters and the community about spay and neuter. She can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .