5 Lessons About Life I Have Learned from My Schnauzers

Living with Schnauzers has been, well interesting.  Beyond the barking, biting, eating, sleeping and relieving themselves in every imaginable way and place.  Nothing like rearranging furniture and discovering a "present" one of them left for you in a by gone age.  When confronted with the evidence, they deny their involvement but acknowledge a sense of pride in the act itself.  Of course, all Schnauzers are not exactly the same.  They are as different as night and day but do share some common traits.  So here I give you 5 lessons about life that I have learned from co-existing with my Schnauzers:

1. When confronted with an intruder bark loudly, menacingly and ferociously

   No matter how big or menacing an adversary may be just learn to bark louder than the intruder and most of the time they will move along to quieter environs.  Raise a noise when you see injustice anywhere in your life and make sure you are heard.  If they don't hear you, gather around like minded people until they do hear you.  This may not stop wars but it will definitely make your little corner of it better.

2. Share love freely and often

   No matter what is going on, no matter how many problems there may be there is always time for love.  I can't tell you how many times I would come home from work to be delighted in seeing my dogs hooking up at the font door (front door open, screen door closed) for the whole world to see.  Lovely thought and greatly appreciated that would be so free with their most intimate of experiences.  Fortunately the neighbors had a good sense of humor and weren't appalled at the lack of decorum.  Their example has served not to encourage public intimacy but to remind us that loving others is nothing to be ashamed of.

3. Keep an eye on the perimeter at all times

   We had one particular Schnauzer who would sleep at the corner of the bed closest to the door who would bark to beat everything (see Lesson #1).  Sometimes barking when there was no particular noise (at least we couldn't hear it).  Barking was our early defense system if an intruder should try to enter our humble domicile.  Raising a voice of concern regularly and often can provide a very good defense against many evils that befall us everyday.  Be it political oppression, the bully down the street or just general decay of the morals in our communities.

4. Food like love is to be shared freely

   No matter when or where I was, if I even thought about going to the kitchen, a schnauzer was close on my heals to share in the delightful treat I was planning to partake.  No wonder I always plan to make another burger or two or extra waffles so they can enjoy the meal with me.  There is something very right about sharing a meal, even if its just a few potato chips, with those you love.  Selfishness has no place in a Schnauzer household.

5. When all else fails sleep on it

   Those dogs can sleep anywhere.  No matter what time of day, how hot or cold it is these dogs can fall asleep and a peaceful sleep at that.  Nothing more comforting than having a house full of sleeping inhabitants.  When they sleep they know everything is right in the world.  If they are not able to sleep, watch it because something is fixing to happen.  When the pressures of the world are getting you down and you just can't go any further, take a nap.  Wake up refreshed with a different perspective and the problems won't seem so daunting anymore.  Amazing how well this works.

These are not nearly all the lessons my dogs have taught me just the main ones that come to mind right now.  If you want to enrich life in ways you could never imagine adopt a canine, particularly a Schnauzer.  Your house will turn into a rather large dog house where you are but a visitor because they will command all of your attention and love.  Good thing I have always been on good terms with my dogs or I might be sleeping in the back yard.