The road less traveled can also lead to satisfaction

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,

I live here in Ashland with my dog. We have so much fun together close to home. But my friends seem to travel all the time. They go to exotic locales: Ecuador. Tokyo. Shanghai. Nepal. Places Oregon dogs aren’t welcome. They post pictures on Facebook, and then they come home and show me more.

I ooh and aah, because honestly, I’m super glad they’ve had such a good time.

But then they ask me what’s on my “bucket list.” Where do I want to go the most?

I feel weird saying the truth: I’d really rather stay home. There are so many fun things to do in Oregon, I never feel like leaving. It’s great walking with my dog on that cool path that runs next to Emigrant Lake. Or on the TID trail — that thing goes on forever above town, through the trees. Or up around the reservoir at the top of Lithia Park. Or even, if we’re going farther afield, any beach on the Oregon coast.

My dog and I love the coast. All of Oregon, actually.

I really enjoy my home, especially the walks. But to share that, it’s a little, I don’t know, would you say pedestrian?

Is it boring saying this to my friends who just got back from some wonderful foreign land?  Also I don’t want them to think I’m not enjoying hearing about their own travels just because it’s not for me.

Should I just keep quiet? Or maybe try to change my own modus operandi and get out more so I have similar stories to share?

— Home-loving Homebody

Dear Home-loving,

I hear you. I love my home best too. Even when I get to stay in a motel and eat those waffles they have for breakfast, I miss it.

Still it takes all kinds to make a world. Some people like to go trekking in the mountains of Nepal. Without their dog. Some people like to eat at restaurants with a river view in Shanghai. Without their dog. Some people like to shop at Harrod’s when they’re in London. Without their dog.

It is incredible to me, but we have to remember that people are different.

So you’re a homebody. If your friends love you, they’ll love that about you too. And you’re not hypocritical being interested in their travels even if you don’t like traveling yourself.  My friend Bridget is a glamorous Labradoodle. She wears a beautiful coat on her walks. I always admire her when she wears it. I honestly tell her she looks stunning. All this while I would rather eat rocks than wear a coat like that myself. And I was a street dog, so I can tell you I know what eating rocks is like.

Your friends are undoubtedly interested in what you like, or you wouldn’t be friends. Maybe they’ll even join you and your dog on a walk closer to home. They can tell you about their travels, and you can point out wildflowers where your dog stops to sniff. If he’s anything like me, he probably stops every yard or so. Gives you plenty of time to chat.

Also I totally agree with you — Ashland is the greatest. Oregon is the greatest. Everyone you meet on a walk seems to have dog treats in their pockets. And they like to share.

Have fun on those walks, and give your dog my regards.

Dear Strider,

Dash, the dog I live with, likes iceberg lettuce. What do you like with lettuce?  Are there particular additions to dog salads that are particularly appetizing?  How about dressings for dog salads?  

— Thanks, Ken in NM

Dear Ken,

This is a great question. As a matter of fact, I love iceberg lettuce too, though mine tends to be cooked. Tod cooks food for me and my pack mate, Shadow, to add to our dry food, and I have to say, she’s a dynamite dog food chef. She tells me it’s simple: 1/3 any kind of chopped meat (I love beef heart, while Shadow prefers turkey), 1/3 oatmeal, and 1/3 vegetable trimmings. She keeps a bag in the back of the lowest shelf of the refrigerator where she saves stuff from veggies and salads that she doesn’t use. Like parsley and cilantro stems, carrot and celery peelings (she says I should remind you peelings for dogs should be from organic veggies), beet and chard stems, outside cabbage and lettuce leaves. So I get iceberg lettuce when she makes a salad and doesn’t use the coarse outside leaves, or anything that’s going brown.

My advice for Dash’s snack would be a nice pile of shredded iceberg lettuce covered with a cheese and bacon dressing. Sometimes Tod adds chopped bacon to our food. Shadow and I love that. So I think something like this would be nice:

— A big spoonful of oil or some kind of melted fat. Olive oil is great. Melted butter is nice. Canola oil is acceptable. We love duck fat around here. And bacon fat. Yum.

— A few crumbles of blue cheese, or feta, or any cheese really. If dairy is hard to digest, like it is for Shadow, vegan cheeses are a great option.

— No salt or pepper. No garlic. No onions. Dogs don’t like those.

— No lemon, lime or orange juice. No tomatoes. No vinegar. Dogs don’t like acidy things.

— Top the whole thing with bacon bits. Raw, cooked, or even burnt bacon from your breakfast. That’s what Shadow and I agree on. Bacon. Always bacon.

Ken in NM, you sound like a stellar dog guardian. Dash is a lucky dog.

Bon appétit.

Strider the dog’s lines are open. Got a problem? Need some comfort or advice? Email [email protected].