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Posted on 11/01/2026 4:39:41 PM PST by nikos1121
I’ve never owned a dog before. Finding myself retired and harboring a stubborn desire to avoid being alone all day, I decided it was time. Should I have done it sooner? No question.
I admit I was unprepared. It felt like the stork had handed me a baby. The first afternoon, I found her sprawled flat across the floor with her back legs splayed out like a frog. I genuinely thought her hips were defective. I learned it’s called a “sploot”.
I also insisted on a female under the hopeful impression that she would primp, groom, and not smell bad. I know: I’m a physician, and biological aromas shouldn’t rattle me, but they do. My Aussie, Kiki, deploys every bit of that 65% protection through pure diplomacy, backed by a thunderous bark with precisely zero bite. All bluff, but it gets the point across.
Aussies are famous “velcro dogs”. They do not merely inhabit a condo; they tether themselves to your shadow. That means regular trips down the elevator and non-negotiable morning walks, rain or shine.
For an aging physician, that routine is medicine. Epidemiological research confirms it. A comprehensive meta-analysis published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, evaluating nearly four million participants, revealed that dog ownership is associated with a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality.
For individuals recovering from heart attacks or strokes, having a dog drops the risk of dying by up to 31%. The mechanics are twofold: forced daily mobility that halts sedentary decline, and deep autonomic stress reduction.
Unlike chimpanzees or other great apes—which struggle to follow a casually pointed human finger despite decades of lab training—dogs understand our pointing, gestures, and vocal inflections intuitively. Over 20,000 years of co-evolution alongside us have hardwired them to read our micro-expressions and emotional tone.
All dogs are therapy dogs. When you lock eyes with your dog, brain scans show a simultaneous surge of oxytocin in both species, the exact neurochemical loop shared between a nursing mother and her child.
It is becoming increasingly clear that before long, humans will employ or purchase live-in AI companions. Silicon Valley will sell us digital confidants, assistants, and caretakers that sit politely, monitor our vital signs, clean the kitchen, and hopefully never turn on us like HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Elon Musk and the tech prophets will inevitably publish white papers declaring them infinitely healthier for us in the long run.
They can build all the algorithms they want. But they will never—ever—produce an AI dog that can replace the warm, breathing, head-on-your-knee, endorphin-releasing joy of the scruffy reality sitting right beside you.
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
“Yes, they are!”
Dobermans are lovely dogs and I still have a “Jonesing”, these 40 years past.I am not “in the necessary shape” to abide a Dobie pup in their vigorous state.
I wish you well.
“Yes, they are!”
Dobermans are lovely dogs and I still have a “Jonesing”, these 40 years past.I am not “in the necessary shape” to abide a Dobie pup in their vigorous state.
I wish you well.
Dobermans are 100% fight to the death to protect you.....
Black labs or any other retriever.
WOW - Seems the local Rx should offer dogs with their other medications.
ML, she is GORGEOUS!!!
I’ve always had dogs since my mother used to breed miniature poodles, so I find it odd when I meet ppl who don’t have pets. We’ll get another dog next yr but in the meantime I’ve “adopted” the abandoned kittens of a feral stray I’ve been feeding for the last 4 yrs.
Pets are worth the time & effort, but they’ll break your heart every time they leave.
Yes, they are!
Try this for fun.....call your Dobie, pet it good, have him sit....look for a friend across the lawn, kneel next to other dog...point to your friend , whisper in the dog’s ear “watch him”... Oh yes hhee will..you’ll notice as little tension on him....then just whisper “go*”. And watch the fun
The FR seems to be messing with the image URLs of the girls.
As one who is recovering from a heart attack last month, I can say my English Springer Spaniel has been a velcro dog since I returned from the hospital. He even picked up the word “Nap” when I tell my wife I’m going to take one, he runs and jumps on the bed ahead of me and has to lay next to my feet. Overall, dogs do sense when things are amiss. I couldn’t live without one.
English Springer Spaniel. Wonderful dog. Growing up we had a Spring Spaniel who loved our big family of eight. Always sat under the table during meals. Always read to go to his bed in the garage at 10pm. Always smiling and wagging his tail.
You’re blessed to have such a sweet dog - and I’m guessing your ‘velcro dog’ is equally blessed to have you. Sweet story. Prayers for a speedy recovery.’
You look like a kind person and your dog looks like a protector - great picture. Cool. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words!
Aussies are high-energy dogs - High-Intensity Physical Exercise: A casual 20-minute neighborhood stroll won’t cut it. They need 1 to 2 hours of daily active engagement—running, fetch, hiking, or agility drills.
Cruel to have them cooped up.
Yes. I take her everywhere I go. The routine is Sleep-Play-Eat-Poop-Play-Sleep and reset.
I’m writing a wellness column for the local paper. Wanted your opinion.
Nice! and true!
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