These past few days I have been on the hunt for a new watch. As with many of my searches I begin by looking at tons of options either locally or online. I look at different brands and models to really hone in on what I really want and can afford. As I am searching online I came across a website that buys watches… I am onto something! I have an old expensive watch that I do not wear any longer because it is too small for me to read now.
I proceed to send them a picture of the watch and fill in their form. Ah. I get a quick response followed by a phone call telling me that they are not currently buying vintage watches. Bummer, I think. So then I take my watch to a local person to inquire further. I learned at the jewelry store that “no one in town really buys these kinds of things” AND that my watch is not working :(
As I am headed home with my broken watch in my pocket I realized that while it is a disappointment that my plan is not panning out, I am actually having oodles of fun doing the research and dreaming about what watch I will finally buy. So even though there is a goal to this adventure, it has also just turned into a fun activity.
Think about it, how many times do you get to do things in your life “just for fun”? We are constantly so busy that fun is relegated to the “if I am lucky” camp or worse the “never-never” camp.
Now, the good news is that if you parent a dog you have indeed a fun-making “machine” at home!
Caring for a dog can also turn into a major to do list. In addition to grave consequences if we do not follow through with most aspects of their care and well-being. So I am not surprised to find out that most of us don’t spend time just having fun with our dogs!
Big mistake! Because this is one of the main reasons for having a dog!! Now, if you are with me here, your next step is to find practical and in effect fun ways to interact with your pup.
Recently I had a client that when I asked her if her dog liked to play with toys or play any games she responded that her dog did not like to play with toys or that they did not engage in play themselves - this then followed by at least three fun interactive activities she and her dog engage in on a regular basis.
Wait a minute, I told her. What you just described to me is in my book a game. I guess it all depends on how we define “games” and “fun” right?
Now do yourself a favor please… invite fun & games into your life if you haven’t already and thank your dog for “keeping things real”.
I proceed to send them a picture of the watch and fill in their form. Ah. I get a quick response followed by a phone call telling me that they are not currently buying vintage watches. Bummer, I think. So then I take my watch to a local person to inquire further. I learned at the jewelry store that “no one in town really buys these kinds of things” AND that my watch is not working :(
As I am headed home with my broken watch in my pocket I realized that while it is a disappointment that my plan is not panning out, I am actually having oodles of fun doing the research and dreaming about what watch I will finally buy. So even though there is a goal to this adventure, it has also just turned into a fun activity.
Think about it, how many times do you get to do things in your life “just for fun”? We are constantly so busy that fun is relegated to the “if I am lucky” camp or worse the “never-never” camp.
Now, the good news is that if you parent a dog you have indeed a fun-making “machine” at home!
Caring for a dog can also turn into a major to do list. In addition to grave consequences if we do not follow through with most aspects of their care and well-being. So I am not surprised to find out that most of us don’t spend time just having fun with our dogs!
Big mistake! Because this is one of the main reasons for having a dog!! Now, if you are with me here, your next step is to find practical and in effect fun ways to interact with your pup.
Recently I had a client that when I asked her if her dog liked to play with toys or play any games she responded that her dog did not like to play with toys or that they did not engage in play themselves - this then followed by at least three fun interactive activities she and her dog engage in on a regular basis.
Wait a minute, I told her. What you just described to me is in my book a game. I guess it all depends on how we define “games” and “fun” right?
These are my descriptions:
- A game is “something” anything really that brings lightness to the moment.
- It has no other purpose than – and this is a big one - both parties are having a good time.
- An activity that will allow participants to get kind of lost in the moment… okay, true, dogs are kind of in-the-moment creatures, but heck I am not! So this is a good place to practice just that.
- Also, for me, games most of the time double as training opportunities. Even if the training is about my dogs wanting to hang out more with me because I am fun and I can make toys come alive and I still can sprint fast … In fact, most of the training that I do with my own dogs IS in play. And we both love that.
- Another important characteristic of my idea of fun & games is that they are fluid and ever changing. I might have some specific rules for a given game but I am open to modify them or “invent” all together another game.
- Safety for both parties is also important. More and more I am mindful of how my interactions with my dogs can affect their physical well-being. Am I playing for too long? Too hard? Are they jumping too high, etc. This requires discipline, as I need to slow down and analyze the process.
Now do yourself a favor please… invite fun & games into your life if you haven’t already and thank your dog for “keeping things real”.
