When Dogs Sleep

Have you ever smiled at a sleeping dog? Their feet twitch and nostrils flare as they slip into the realm of dreams. Perhaps dreams are the gateway to the eternities. They are a way to visit what was, and what is to come.


Puppies come into life with a powerful love and loyalty that is unequaled in most people. They become part of our families with perfect devotion. They are loyal to the point of laying down their lives for their loved ones. They have intelligence beyond our understanding and seem to sense our moods. In fact, it has been said that they possess all of our virtues with none of our vices. It behooves us to be worthy of their devotion.

As dogs speed through life from puppies to old age, they give us a glimpse of how quickly life passes, and how much we should enjoy it. Dogs don’t hold grudges very long. They’re forgiving. They wag their way through life, and smile through the good times and the bad.

I believe that when a dog takes his last breath on earth, he takes his first one in paradise. His mind gradually awakens as his senses come to life with perfection. The pains of mortal life slip away as he stands up, bows down, and contorts into a deep stretch, yawning with an extended curling tongue. His nostrils flare, experiencing new levels of perception in smell. The squint in his eyes departs as his pupils adjust to the brightness. His perfect silky coat warms from the summer breeze and rays of light. His tail wags like a puppy and his nose drops to the green grass. His feet glide over the ground in a powerful gallop as he explores the rolling hills and forests in his new home, where he waits to greet us with bounding hugs and kisses when we take our last breath on earth.