Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Animals at 5:38 PM Monday, June 14, 2010

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Do You Treat your Partner as Well as You Treat your Pet?

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 09:13 AM PDT

Clicker-training-Miles Probably not, according to an article I came across on a psychology blog by way of the NYT's website. It's written by a Psychologist named Suzanne Phillips who is heavily involved in couples research. Her contention is that we can learn lots about dealing with our significant others by observing how we deal with our pets.

My wife Chris is an excellent example of what Dr. Phillips is talking about. While she doesn't treat me quite as well as she treats Miles, she does a pretty good job.
 
I, on the other hand, have a lot to learn by watching Chris and Miles.
 
For instance, I'm not the best morning person in the world. It takes me a while to warm up. I need a cup of good coffee and some breakfast before I'm much of a communicator. Chris and Miles are cooing, wiggling and laughing from the moment she walks up the stairs to greet Miles, in the morning.
 
I'm also a bit of a neat freak and I get grouchy when stuff is strewn all over the place. Chris, on the other hand, is much more tolerant, especially with Miles. Just yesterday we came home to a big Miles' mess in the living room. He'd gotten up on the kitchen counter and grabbed an entire loaf of bread, the remains of which were scattered all over the place. Miles-is-lovable
 
Chris' comment, while she was picking up the shredded mess was something on the order of, "Gee I wonder how he got up there. Guess we better start putting the food away when we leave."
 
I was muttering under my breath.
 
I spoil Miles, too. I go out of my way to get him special food, and I'll drive 100 miles to get him vaccine and take him to his rattlesnake aversion training.
 
Truth be told, I've cleaned up lots of his messes without a harsh word directed his way. He's just so cute and lovable. He never holds a grudge and he's always happy to see me.
 
Where-you-going-Mom
So why can't we give our human companions the same amount of slack we give our pets? Who knows, but after reading this article, I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm going to give Chris a big howdy and a hug every morning. I'm not going to hold grudges and I'm going to assume the best instead of the worst. 
I may be an old dog myself, but I can learn a few new tricks. From Miles, no less.  

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