Alex’s Insights

Several years ago, Nancy was getting a massage and as usual I was resting on the floor next to the table. Now it looked like I was asleep, but I was very much awake—just chilling and collecting data. At one point the massage therapist asked Nancy if she could put some cream on her back…

When I was a pup, my mother used to say that learning how to create good relationships was very, very important, because a good relationship can help you change your perceptions and transform your life and the life of your new owner. Nancy once told me that she began her artistic career as a sculptor…

When Nancy and I lived in phoenix Oregon there were several different trails that we would take on our daily walks. One trail was really an abandoned railroad track the ran behind the high school football field. There were lots of trees and shade and it felt peaceful, so we would stroll slowly down this…

My mother would constantly remind us that our job was to provide unconditional love and help our new owners learn to approach life from unconditional love. Humor is a wonderful antidote for stress, a delightful way to release bottled-up emotions, change your perceptions and ultimately help you open your heart to unconditional love. Some people…

In these times of increased stress and upheaval, I think it is important to remember that petting a dog can lower the stress hormone, cortisol and at the same time increase the feel-good hormone oxytocin in both the dog and the human. Petting a dog can also release endorphins which can create feelings of happiness…

What are we celebrating on Labor Day? Today Labor Day is no longer about trade unionists marching down the street with banners and their tools of trade. Labor Day also is not just a Holiday that marks the end of summer. It is a day that we celebrate the hard-working individuals that have helped build…

Why are some people mean and even cruel? Why do some people feel the need to pass their anger on to others? Don’t they understand how their actions are harming others? Here is my story: It was early morning, and we were in the JFK airport in New York getting ready to fly back home…

For those who haven’t been following my column my owner, Nancy Marie, has Addison’s Disease. This means that her body doesn’t make the hormone necessary for her body to handle stress. This also means she needs to administer it manually. Her doctor had suggested she get a Medical Alert dog to help her manage her…

Here is my story for today: Earlier this week Nancy and I went for her routine blood draw. During the blood draw Nancy chatted with the phlebotomist. Near the end of the visit the phlebotomist said she wanted to tell us a story that had happened recently. She said a person had taken their dog…

Here is my story. Today on my morning walk with Nancy, she found herself exploring a playground and reminiscing about the playgrounds she used to play on when she was very young. She said her two favorite pieces of equipment at that time were the titer totter and the merry-go-round. Unfortunately, they are no longer…

When you find something is upsetting you, how do you react? If things don’t work out the way you want them to, do you get angry? Then do you become so stuck you become sore? Or do you shake off the unconstructive and negative feelings? My mother tried to instill in both my siblings and…

When I was very young and still living with my mom, she used to gather us all together in the evening and ask us as we drifted off to sleep, “Are you a catalyst, a bridge, or a practical application? Now that may sound like a strange thing for a mother of ten puppies to…

Here is my story today: It was mid-July and at the time Nancy, and I were living in Southern Oregon. One very hot day we were in Medford doing some errands. As we walked back to our car, we passed a veteran in a wheelchair going the opposite direction in the crosswalk. He seemed like…

Independence Day, also known as the 4th of July, is a federal holiday in the United States. It commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence and the establishing of the United States of America. By issuing the Declaration of Independence the 13 American colonies were able to sever their political connections with Great Britain.…

When you view or review an event do you focus only on the obvious or literally story or do you look for the metaphor or insight it might provide? Lisa, a friend of Nancy’s, told Nancy a story yesterday that I found to be very funny. Here is the story. When Lisa was young her…

It breaks my heart to see how lonely some people are. Many don’t even know they are lonely, nor do they realize that loneliness and isolation are not good for either their body or mind. Dogs are pack animals—meaning we know that we flourish in community and connection. I sometimes I think it would be…

When Nancy and I take our early morning walk we can choose from multiple trails and paths. Yesterday, Nancy decided to walk the path that weaved through a local park. As usual, Nancy had me on a leash because it was required in that park. I also was aware that Nancy was purposely keeping a…

My mother used to say, “Fear is contagious.” So, you need to learn how to settle yourself down when you feel fearful or anxious and, in the process, you will help your new owner settle themselves down as well. Recently Nancy was listening to a podcast where Kamala Harris said the same thing, “Fear is…

Today I would like to talk about Memorial Day. Memorial Day is about remembering. It is a day when we need to stop, reflect, and give thanks to the people who fought and died for the things and freedoms we have. Memorial Day started during the Civil War when women began decorating the graves of…

So here is my story: In a previous e-mail I talked about racing Nancy when she was on her bike and always winning when I was younger. I didn’t win because she let me win but because I was that fast and could maintain that speed for quite a while. I am older now and…

I have spoken about Hanks, my Portuguese water dog friend before, but today I want to talk about another remarkable talent he has. I think it is a window into what motivates Hanks. Hanks loves people and he especially likes to feel like he belongs. So, if two adults are talking in a room where…

When I was going through my training to be a Medical Alert Dog for Nancy we lived in Southern Oregon. Several miles out of town and at a higher elevation was Lake of the Woods. It was a beautiful lake and because of the higher elevation it was much cooler in the summer. Nancy and…

I meet Sofie when I was young. Nancy had taken me to see Rebecca, my groomer at the time, to get a bath and get my hair cut. That morning on the way to work Rebecca had seen Sophie running down the side of the road. She was obviously lost or had been abandoned. Rebecca…

Is your collar choking you?? So here is my story: Several years ago, when Nancy and I were attending a conference, a woman approached us during a break. She began telling Nancy about her background in dog training and her level of expertise. She also divulged that she really like dogs and she especially like…

I love winter, and I also love Spring. So, why do I love winter? In winter the temperature drops and many of us often encounter snow. When this happens both the snow and even the temperature dropping can almost instantly change our perceptions. Once that happens, we can see things more clearly and respond from…

There are many stories about where April Fools’ Day and the custom of making fools and/or playing harmless practical jokes on April 1st originated. Some historians suggest that April Fools’ Day originated in the Middle Ages, while others have different theories. In my mind it doesn’t really matter where it originated or has been used…

When I was a pup, I developed a habit of kissing people’s ears that I really liked. (I am the pup with the purple ribbon.) Everyone one thought it was really cute, but assumed that this behavior would stop when I got older—but it didn’t. I can remember the first time I met Nancy’s son.…

When I was growing up, my mother said that everyone one has a purpose. You can see it in their true nature, what gives them the greatest joy, and how they move through life. I never realized the significance of what she was saying until I meet Hanks. Hanks was and is a Portuguese water…

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? If you do, do you know the history behind St. Patrick’s Day? Here is what I have discovered: The story of St. Patrick begins when he was captured by Irish raiders at the age of sixteen and brought to Ireland as a slave where he herded and tended sheep…

So here is my story today: A couple of months ago, Nancy was having a conversation with one of the workers at Trader Joes. In that conversation the worker told Nancy about an incident that had happen in their store. Someone had brought their dog into the store under the pretense that it was a…

I think we have all experienced scary and even traumatic moments. In these experiences we can feel crushed or gain the ability to breath deeper and feel more deeply loved. So here is my story: Nancy and I were heading home after a long morning walk. We were about 3 blocks from home when out…

I think we have all experienced loneliness and the need for someone to witness the challenges we face at one time in our life. In the witnessing, we can provide the gift of listening, not giving of advice, but rather the gift of being present and open-hearted compassionate listening. Here is my story: It was…

It is hard for me to grasp the lack of sensitivity in some humans. Here is my story: Nancy and I were walking across the parking lot to go into a store. Ahead of us I saw a man and a woman walking out of the store and walking towards us. The gentleman was walking…

I love music! I love dancing! I love weddings! Whenever Nancy brings out my sparkly red bowtie, I get excited and begin dancing around the room. Why do I get excited? I know we are going to do or go someplace special. We have gone to parties, and special events, but on this day, Nancy…

When my trainer was discussing what kind of dog would be good for Nancy Marie, she suggested a poodle. Nancy asked why. The trainer said two things: First they are hypoallergenic, and you will be in a lot of places where people are allergic to dogs, so you are thinking about them. The second reason…

When I was young, I used to run like the wind. I would race Nancy on her bike and would always win even when we were on a downward path. I can remember it like it was yesterday. She would carry her bike over the railroad tracks to get us on a trail that wrapped…

I know I am not supposed to interact with other people when I am wearing my Medical Alert jacket, but this day was different. So here is my story: Nancy and I were walking across the parking lot heading to a store when I felt this deep impulse to head over to a specific car.…

  I like people, but their behavior often confuses me. They say they want to accomplish something and yet they never find the time to develop the skill set necessary to accomplish their desired outcome. When I was in training, I had to learn a lot of unique skills. This didn’t happen miraculously. This was…

Do you know that the celebration of New Year’s Day on January 1 is a human-made creation or a civil event? This is because it is not precisely fixed to any natural or seasonal marker. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, where daylight recently ebbed to its lowest point and the days are…

Winter is the time when all of nature takes a deep breath and goes inward. It is a time for self-reflection, deep healing, changing of perceptions, and gaining clarity about who we are and what we want to do in the future. It is a time of great joy over what we have accomplished and…

I love to travel, but sometimes difficult situations arise. Now before I proceed with my story you need to know that when I fly, I need to fast for 24 hours before the flight, because there isn’t any place for me to relieve myself when we are in the air. Okay so here is the…

When I was a pup, my momma told me that dogs are gifted with the ability to give unconditional love and that medicine is great for the heart and soul of a person. She also said that it was important to pay attention to how we give and how much we give. This awareness is…

We have very sensitive noses, and we like to smell!! We also like a variety of smells—don’t you? Now sometimes a dog really likes to roll in a smell they discover on the lawn. I personally don’t. Often humans find the practice of rolling in a certain smell “gross” but then they go home and…

It seems to me that many people today are so used to being stress that they no longer know when they are stressed. They also don’t seem to know how to approach life in a relaxed and unstressed out state. Now consider that science has found that when you pet a dog, and I think…