21 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

11 Oct 2008 09:08 AM

The last time we went to have a Murph post-op paw check-up at the surgeon's office, we were placed in a room that had artwork in it this time -in the form of a cute poster titled "21 Ways to Make a Dog Smile."

It was a long, skinny one with three columns seven rows deep of 21 different smiling dog faces. Above the pictures were captions that suggested such smile-invoking activities as "Play catch," "Make it a Blockbuster night," "Do you want to go for a...WALK?!," "Joyride!," "Bring your dog to work day," and "Teach your dog to smile...literally!"

Then there were some with more cryptic subtitles. Like "Lower Ear Noogles," "Daddy longlegs," and "Hot pursuit." (I'm thinking that last one was a chase game, though. I know Murph smiles when I'm in pursuit of his sock snatchin' self.)

I would have known for sure what the more cryptic ones meant if I'd taken time to study the poster more closely. Beneath the captions were what I could only assume were instructions for how to perform the smile-invoking activities, but I didn't get a chance to read them. (I was busy trying to keep Murph laying down instead of hobbling all over the room.)

But it got me thinking.

I once wrote about how not only Murph, but the cats too, do things on purpose to get me to smile. I'd never stopped to consider how I do the same for them. (Well, more Murph. The cats don't exactly smile. They have a different way of communicating happiness and laughter.)

But Murph most definitely smiles. Many of the things I noted above that were on the poster are sure smile-starters. But there are others too.

I don't know if they had one on their for saying the name of a buddy, but if I say, "Tucker's coming!" or "Want to come with me to drop stuff off at Otie and Hershey's house?" Murph breaks out in a big ol' grin.

So does saying, "Papa's home!"

We can't say it anymore, but "Want to take a road trip to Grandma Dorothy's house?" lit up his face big time.

But the one that cracks me up the most is when he catches me picking on his brother and sister. Especially if I scold them for acting too wild and creating too much chaos. Not only does he grin, he chuckles too.

Question to Readers

What makes your dog smile?

Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here.

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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