A DOG’S LIFE

Have you ever wondered where the expression “a dog’s life” came from?

The expression is centuries old. In England, dogs were once working animals. Many lived outside, slept in rough conditions, were given scraps of food, and were expected to work hard. To “lead a dog’s life” meant to live a miserable, difficult existence. 

But a few weeks ago, when we visited Carmel-by-the-Sea, I had to smile at how completely the meaning has changed.

Carmel has only about 3,000 residents, but I cannot imagine how many dogs live there. They seemed to be everywhere. And during Car Week, when enormous numbers of visitors came to Carmel, many brought their dogs with them.

Carmel is truly a dog-friendly place. Dogs are welcomed almost everywhere, and on Carmel Beach they can even run without a leash as long as they respond to voice commands. Looking at those happy dogs made me realize that “a dog’s life” can mean something entirely different today.

Take Max, our Labradoodle. Max does not have a miserable life. Quite the opposite. He lives very comfortably. He has people who love him, good food, regular walks, plenty of attention—and,  because he is now nine years old, he even sleeps on a special bed designed specifically for older dogs. So, perhaps we need to update the expression.

For some dogs today, “a dog’s life” means being loved, cared for, comfortable and completely spoiled.

Just take a look on some of the dogs I encountered in Carmel.

You can get a dog’s bed, like Max’s, on petsupportsystems.com

Enjoy and share!