Pupdate: about...dirt

About Dirt

By Human Affairs Correspondent, Snow

I love to run in the park. It is one of my favourite things (along with naps, food, woofing at the dog next door, making little houses out of bushes in the garden, eating everything and saying hello to everyone).

In the park no day is ever the same.

The air ruffles my fur, the scents of wood and grass and poo and birds fill my nostrils. The sounds of rustling creatures in the undergrowth make my ears twitch. The touch of soft green grass, scratchy yellow grass and squelchy brown grass sets my skin tingling with excitement.

And then there is the water! The best parks always have water. What is more wonderful than being able to have a drink, a paddle and a swim all in the same place?

By the water, the earth feels different in different places. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes rocky, sometimes squelchy, sometimes slippy. I like to explore it all; to dip my paws in the cold clear water and the black sticky water. Sometimes I put my face in too.

There is only one downside to this wonderful experience. 

When I get in the brown water, roll in the squelchy grass or put my nose in a particularly stinky poo, my people huff and sigh. 

They do not like me getting dirty.

It is strange, because I humans like wet play areas too. My little people once went off for the day to the “water park” (I’m not sure why they didn’t bring me!). My big people have gone to the “spa” for a “relaxing mud pack”.

I’m not sure how this is different to going to the park and getting muddy by the river. But they never join in with me. Instead they groan and say words like “bath” and “shampoo”.

When I get home they take me to the garden and hose me down with water. I don’t mind that bit. It is the bit when they chase me with sprays and shampoos to “get rid of the smell” that I don’t like. Why on earth would they want to get rid of the smell?

It is very confusing.

I have noticed something very important though. (I am a very observant dog.) Even though they moan and sign, my people take me out again and again to the park and watch as I jump in puddles and roll in mud. They might not like me getting mucky, but they like to see me have fun. 

Perhaps, deep down, they wish they could be a bit more like me. Or perhaps watching me have fun is enough fun for them.

Wags and Woofs

Snow

"To find true love and friendship, you have to get your paws dirty."

– Goldie Paw