Beagle Blogger On Being A “Dog Pleaser”

     Oscar here.  My owner DM told me, he’s had a problem with “People pleasing”.  I guess that would be like when you and I worry what other dogs think.  He (DM) told me he heard a story that has helped him catch himself when he starts feeling that pressure.  He said it would be OK if I shared it with you. 

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     A father and son were going to town with their donkey, since it was a long trip, the father decided to ride on the donkey while the son walked .  They met someone  who said to the father,  “How  selfish, you ride the donkey and make your son walk!  You should be ashamed of yourself. ”  So the father got off the donkey and let the son get on.

     A little later, they met another person, He looked at the son  and said, “How selfish young man, riding while your father walks.  You should be ashamed of yourself!  He’s an old man, where are your manners?”

     So the father and son decided that it was best if neither one rode.   Later, they met another group , when they saw both the father and son walking, they laughed and said, “What fools!  here you  have a donkey and no body rides, what a waste of a good donkey!” 

      The father and son looked at each other and thought, maybe they are right…so they both got on the donkey.    As luck would have it, they met another group, when these people saw both the father and son on the donkey, they scolded them,“How cruel you  are!….look at the little donkey, it’s having to carry both of you big oafs, you should be ashamed of yourselves!”

     The father and son were beside themselves, no matter what they did, someone had a better idea!  The father said, “I guess the only option left is for us to carry the donkey, so no one can say we’re doing it the wrong way.”    And that’s just what they did, they carried the donkey to town.

       Fellow dogs, my point:  If you try to please every  dog , you will end up carrying your  donkey and looking like a cat.                           Oscar.

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      DM tells me, some dead dude name Aseop told this story so don’t get your fur all ruffled and think I’m claiming I  made this one up.   OSCAR