4 June

Why We Sing To Dogs

by Jon Katz
Why We Sing To Dogs

People sometimes feel a little self-conscious about singing to their dogs – I certainly do. But as I have studied and written about communicating with animals for some years now, I have come to take singing to dogs (and cats, horses and donkeys too) very seriously.

Dogs do not know most of the words we spout at them, but they are extraordinarily sensitive to sound and the emotions behind sound. Trainers often used high-pitched voices for reinforcement, praise or to get a dog’s attention. If you really pay attention to it, there is something very powerful about the communications between an animal and a human being singing. Most dogs respond almost immediately to the love and emotion – the attention and arousal – that goes with singing. They may not understand what we say to them, but they are quick to grasp what we are feeling for them. They respond, and then we respond.

Our society is becoming increasingly humorless, filled with warnings, lawsuits, medical procedures, the angry and callous posturings of politicians, the deprivations of corporations, which have ravaged the workplace,the marketplace, the economy, the media, much of our culture, and our increasingly  ideological and money-polluted political system.

By contrast, our love of our pets, our dogs and our cats, is a pure expression of love, joy and connection. Kids grow up and distance themselves from us, as they should, and the institutions in our lives become increasingly remote, uncaring and inaccessible. The love of a dog is as pure an emotion as there is. Try this: when you are singing to your pet, close your eyes for a second and pay close attention to how you feel, the lift in your heart, the glow in your inner spirit. When the dog looks at you and wags, melts, howls, reacts, it triggers a sense of connection that is not cute or trivial, but powerful and vital. Nourishing, uplifting.  We need it, it heals and sustains us, our pets are doing the most essential work keeping us connected in ways the rest of our world sometimes is not.

At night, Lenore sits and waits for me on the bed. Her ears go back, her tails starts to thump, she turns to jelly, waiting for the song I inevitably sing to her. As I lean over her and croon my love, she turns to jelly, and licks my face and hand, rolling over on her back. My heart lifts, my worries wash away, and I am reminded that love is pure and powerful. That is not a small thing. Our relationship is all about love and service, diluted by none of the things that complicate human relationships.

It is cute, but more than that. It is endearing, but beyond that. It is sappy, but much more than that.  It is a beautiful and timeless connection, a bridge between two species whose souls can connect with song in a way that lifts us up. Just read the lyrics pouring into my  Facebook Page.

4 June

Singing To Frieda. My Song

by Jon Katz
Singing To Frieda

Okay, as promised, the song I sing to Frieda. For many more (and very wonderful lyrics of songs people sing to their dogs and cats, go to my Facebook Page.) This to the tune of “I Dreams I Saw St. Augustine,” by Bob Dylan. Thanks, Bob.

 

Frieda Song

“I dreamed I saw my Frieda run as fast as birds or bees,

Tearing through these quarters as the rabbits and chipmunks flee,

With the forest underneath her feet and collar of solid gold

Searching for the hapless things whose souls are about to be sold.

Pursue, pursue, she howled so loud the raccoons did nearly faint

Come out, you furry dinner meals to speak your sad complaints,

No creature is among you now to stare our Frieda down,

But on you flee fast anyhow, pursued by the ferocious hound.

I dreamed I saw my Frieda run with every fiery breath,

running down the squirrel she sees and truckers scared to death,

Oh, I yelled and yelled in anger, “Frieda, you come here right now!”

If you don’t come I’ll kick your ass, I lied and lied and lied,

I put my fingers to the glass and bowed my head and cried.

I dreamed I saw my Frieda jump the fence in front of me,

Tearing down the road for miles in the utmost state of glee

Oh, run, oh run, my Frieda dear, my voice you will not hear,

my shouts  will not obey, but this I have to say,

one day you will live your dreams, and catch up with a deer.”

 

 

 

4 June

Singing To Dogs. Feel Good About Yourself.

by Jon Katz
Singing To Frieda

At lunch in New York City last week, my editor bragged a bit about her success at getting me more in touch with my inner self when writing. “A bit more emotional,” she said, beaming. This is so. A number of things have contributed to that. My editor, for sure. My divorce. Maria. Losing dogs I love. Life. Meditation. Spirituality. Simon. I see that the power of animals to lift people up, and that is my power too. Sometimes I get distracted and writing about life, meaning, spirituality, and fear, but every now and then I am reminded of why I am here, what the work is really about. “I used to think being cute and emotional was sappy,” I said at lunch. “Now, I see it is my work, the point. Helping people feel good, especially when it comes to animals.”

This morning, I posted a request on my Facebook Page. If my readers would share the lyrics of the songs they sing to dogs, I would share some of mine. I was concerned that some people might feel uncomfortable. Ha!  I was, of course flooded with lyrics right away, many people expressing relief at the realization that everybody does this – and everybody does it. I’ve been singing to Lenore for some years, lately singing to Frieda.  Some amazing and wonderful lyrics that you can check our for yourself. Now this ought to be a book. I am smitten with Bonnie Kilby’s “My Bonnie, you’re a naughty chinchilla,” to the tune of “Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” or Kathy LeBeau’s quite wonderful “You are my Augie, my Augie Doggie, You make me happy, when skies are gray.”

Anne Eddy sang “Buddha Buddha Boo, the Buddha Boo Boo” to the tune of “Strangers In The Night” to her late dog Boo. As promised, I will post the lyrics of the song I’m singing to Frieda these days – to the tune of “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” by Bob Dylan and there’s another from Willie Nelson I sing to both dogs. You cannot real these lyrics without feeling something of the power of love, the happiness that lives and runs in the world, and the great work animals like dogs are doing to brighten our lives.

I listened when my editor told me to open up, but I did not imagine it would come to this. Jump in.

4 June

Come Meet Big Red

by Jon Katz
Come See Big Red

Come see big red. Dr. Karen Thompson of Virginia was kind enough to have a five minute video of Red taken this weekend and she sent it to me this morning. Red is coming to the farm June 25th looks like, a good friend is going to make the long drive and pick him up. We hope to have to some sheep soon after that, and it will be a pleasure to work with Red, an astounding working dog with a rich history – he’s from Ireland. A new dog is a big deal here, and we are excited. I told Karen he will have the best home in the world for a border collie – work every day, woods to run around in, and a chance to ride along anywhere he wants. Here’s the video: Red At Work.

Dogs enter our lives and mark our passages. Red is a different kind of dog than Rose, coming at a different point in life. I am eager to meet him, work with him and write about him. With Lenore and Frieda, I will have a great line-up of dogs, each doing different things in different ways. Got to have a long talk with Frieda about acceptance.

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