Leave It

I never really cared for the command “leave it”. It never fails. It seems whenever I catch a whiff of a deer sneaking around my woods, and I take off to investigate…I hear my hooman off in the distance shouting “LEAVE IT”. Even if I am hot on that whitetail trail, I do my best to be a good boy, and return to my hooman’s side. My hooman is usually overjoyed when I leave my woodland friends alone. She claps and smiles and rubs my ears. Often repeating how good I am! So, “leaving it” does pay-off.

Sometimes tho, I don’t want to leave it. Sometimes I pretend NOT to hear my hooman. Like when I find a fresh salmon skin on the side of the creek. My racoon bandits are often generous and leave me some of their tasty leftovers. My hooman does not like it when I eat these delicious snacks and usually loudly repeats the command “leave it – leave it – leave it” as she trys to pry my teeth open while I am desperately trying to swallow my fishy treats. 

The times when I don’t “leave it” – my situation usually ends badly. I have chased deer in the wrong direction and gotten lost. I have eaten old fish that didn’t agree with me and gotten sick. I have even chased woodland friends up trees and barked and barked so they would come down – only to be ignored.

Leaving it is hard to do. Sometimes leaving “it” can be a feeling. Once I was too close to the road and a truck blew his horn at me. Scared me so bad I just started running! My hooman had to call me back so I could find my way home. I still think about that truck and when I do – I can feel that scared feeling creep back like it is happening all over again. I know I should “leave it” and stop thinking about it – but sometimes I just can’t. Upset feelings and problems are much harder to leave than tasty treats or woodland friends. Sometimes they haunt me in my sleep and I twitch in my dreams.

To get my mind off it, I usually bark out to my buddy Nixin and meet him at the no-dog-dog-park (the NDDP). This is the park that is supposed to be for dogs but no dogs are ever there when I go – thus the NDDP. Nix knows what I mean, and how important it is to just run free for awhile. It’s important to have a friend to help you “leave it” when times get tough. 

So friends, if you find yourself twitching in your dreams or chasing something in the wrong direction – take my advice and “leave it”. Stop all that you are doing and return yourself to those who love you most or spend some time with a good friend. Leave your troubles at the gate – even if only a moment.  

Bark with you next week – your friend,

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