Lessons for My Dog: Just Because it Smells Like Sh*t, Doesn’t Mean You Should Eat It

With a new pup in the house I’m realizing it’s time to create some lessons for my dog. The first lesson: just because it smell like sh*t, doesn’t mean you should eat it.

Lost in Interspecial Translation

To some degree I understand. I mean, Zara looks at me confused when I brush my teeth and don’t eat the toothbrush. She doesn’t understand when I pet the cats instead of chase them. She’s baffled when I prefer my food on a plate instead of the floor.

There’s a difference in the way we do things as a species, and I get that. She likes to sniff everything; there are a great many things I would prefer not to. She likes to taste everything; I kind of have a “nothing with hair attached” rule.

But there’s one thing I still don’t get. Why does she love to get into the cat litter? What is it about it that spurs her on? I don’t get it.

I want to sit her down and explain to her that just because it smells like sh*t doesn’t mean you should eat it.

I know you laugh, but should you?

Turned Tables

Maybe Zara’s not the only one with a penchant for crap. Who amongst us hasn’t been in a sucky relationship that we just couldn’t get enough of even though it was full of sarcasm, vitriol, and disgust. Is there a single one of us who hasn’t stayed in a job that sucked on every level? Sure, Zara might have a literal interest in crap, but what’s our excuse?

I’m here to tell you that just because it smells like sh*t, doesn’t mean you should eat it. The first key to better relationships is not to settle for crap. If the fragrance of a bad situation just seems too enticing, like the hint of rotten fruit that’s oddly compelling, you don’t have to jump in.

It’s so odd that we can’t see for ourselves what we settle for. We’re so ready to help someone with depression or someone in a bad situation, but so often we don’t notice we’re in a similar situation.

Nothing says you have to partake of something horrible just because you’re drawn to it, like a fly to… well, I think we’ve made that clear.

Sure, we like to look at our animals and think, “that’s just crazy and disgusting!” I wonder how often they look at us and our decisions and think the exact same thing.