Being a canine advice columnist’s wish for friendly greetings to all

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,

I love your column, and read it whenever it appears.  Your advice is always wise, and your enjoyment of your life is contagious. So I’m wondering how you spend the holidays. What do you celebrate and how? Do other dogs celebrate the same as you? And what about decorations? Are they safe with you around?

Also, what hints do you have for a safe and happy holiday?

— Holiday Reveler

Dear Holiday,

As a matter of fact, one of the best things about the holidays for me is being able to spread cheer around, no matter whether at the dog park, on the gaily lit streets of Ashland, at the beach on the Oregon coast, or in the snowy Siskyou mountains. I like to give a “Merry Christmas Woof!” to everyone I meet. This is because we celebrate Christmas in our house, and part of our celebration is we love to hear back wishes from others celebrating their favorite holiday at the close of the year. Different dogs celebrate differently, of course, depending on what the scoop is with their families. I love hearing those happy sounds coming back at me, whether it’s “Happy Hanukkah!” (hi, Abbey!) or “Happy Kwanzaa!” (hi, Dusty!) or even “Blessed Winter Solstice!” (hi, Koda, hi, Leo, hi, Jona!). What could be better than exchanging warm wishes for happiness in whatever way suits you and your pack? Then the topper for me is gathering with loved ones, with extra festive points for those bracingly cold holiday walks together, after which we come home to get warm by the fire.

Well. That and the food. Around our house, we get extra special food: a raw egg on top of our Christmas morning breakfast, a raw marrowbone for our Christmas lunch, special treats throughout the day, and a little raw bacon on top of our Christmas dinner. It’s a wonderful time of the year!

Yum. I’m hungry just thinking about it.  So that’s my advice! Go for a long, wonderful walk in the cold with your loved ones, and come home to something especially good to eat. Can’t get better advice than that!

As an aside: yes, of course the Christmas tree decorations are safe around me. Anyway, my humans always hang the more fragile ones up where my tail isn’t likely to get them. I appreciate that.

And I appreciate you, Holiday Reveler! Wishing you a Merry Everything, all month long. (I like to wish that to everyone! Even to the Grinchish person who wrote the following not-so-nice letter.)

Dear Strider

Down with Yachats!

Please spread the word about this so-called tourist town. I was just there for two days and it rained the whole time. There was nothing to do but sit inside and watch TV. I should of stayed at home. Luckily I don’t have a dog, because it would have gotten all wet.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

— Heidi

Dear Heidi,

I’m hoping this letter is a joke, yes? Especially at this most friendly of seasons, why would anyone write such a mean note? You must know that Yachats is my favorite beach town in the world. It happens to be the location of Strider Beach Where the Cars are Just Out of Reach, sands where I have spent many a happy hour racing back and forth chasing trucks that pass by overhead on the road.

I don’t like to be excessively critical of anyone, but if this isn’t a joke, it is kind of rude. As well as not being sensitive to its audience. Yachats is a favorite with Rogue Valley visitors to the Oregon coast, and with good reason. Not least of which is how much fun it is to walk your dog there, rain or shine, with water bowls out on every corner, and many a hostelry ready to welcome pups and their fellow humans for a sip of something and/or a bite to eat. Yes, if the Rogue Valley is paradise on earth for dogs, Yachats is a worthy annex.

Maybe what you need is a good brisk holiday walk with a loved one and a dog.

By the way, is your name really Heidi? I knew a Heidi who hated dogs. She was always in a bad mood. I’m wondering if you’re the same one.

Merry Christmas all the same!

Feeling the festive love? Or are you more on the Grinch side? Either way, our advice columnist is here for you. Just email [email protected].