A study in sleep patterns
Not everyone can welcome a pet into their home. Allergies, space, incompatible behaviour patterns; you name it, there’s a valid excuse for any situation. But let’s assume that you have decided to make the lifestyle change. You’ve weighed the pros and cons and you’re actually gone so far as to decide what species you want as a housemate. Bravo! Just don’t let the advice columns of this world bring too much into the decisional process.
For example, anyone choosing a dog (a wise choice) will get the counsel to assure lots of time for your pet’s exercise. Playtime, walktime, run up and down the stairs chasing tail time. Excuse me, but the average dog is actually a specialist at this:
This photo could have been taken at almost any time of day or night. It could have been taken in almost any room in the house, on almost any comfortable piece of furniture. Perhaps not in the middle of the night, come to think of it, because that’s when she wants to share a bed. I am not going to accuse any other dog of lethargy, but ours has managed to convince us that exercise is completely optional. We even get a certain quantity of “dirty looks” when a preferred comfort zone has been usurped.
Now, at night there’s little argument. Dogs are warm, so we can reduce the room temperature slightly and keep the extra blankets for company. However, during prime time there aren’t that many good vantage points for TV, and the dog doesn’t even pay attention. If the other end of the couch is available, it becomes fair game within a matter of minutes:
In fact, I saw her pawness sleeping outside on a snowbank not long ago. The truth is that the average dog is an inanimate object for much of the day and night. Couch potato with a good fur coat. Just watching her makes me yawn.
