Unfortunately, my hubs has a very stressful job. He also has trouble managing his stress. Rita apparently knows this, since she suddenly decided she should sit between us while we eat breakfast on the sofa in front of the news. (Sorry about the picture quality - took it with my iPad, shooting in to the light. Should know by now to always have the camera handy.)
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| Administering the proper dosage of oxytocin |
She's supposed to be over on "her" side of the sofa, on her towel. But since the hubs can use a dose of oxytocin before work, I don't mind a little dog hair. (Besides, our house is practically covered in it anyway.) You can read about dogs and oxytocin
here, but here's a key nugget: "Oxytocin, which is sometimes dubbed 'the cuddle hormone,' helps reduce
blood pressure and decreases levels of cortisol, a hormone related to
stress and anxiety." Keep that stuff coming, Rita!
You might suspect that she only chose to sit there to have access to
our breakfast of peanut butter toast and yogurt - but you'd actually be
wrong. She's totally gone off peanut butter, and if I offer her a bite or
my plate when I'm done with it, she turns her head and acts like I've put the most disgusting thing ever in front of her. As for the
yogurt, she might lick a bit off a spoon when you're done, but she does NOT
want to lick the cup. (She's so odd.)
Do you try to extract some cuddle hormone from your dog?
I get a double dose everyday :-)
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should reconsider adding another dog... more oxytocin to go around!
DeleteI can't wait until we can get our daily dose again! Cute pic of your family.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait either!
DeleteI get plenty of that too. Makes the day better.
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed! It's pathetic when he has to beg to come over and give him a dose though...
DeleteMen are sometimes not as good as women at asking for the help they need to get through stress. I'm glad Rita is willing to lend her services as stress-reducer without being asked. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true! Yes, I guess Rita is pretty in tune to her Pop.
DeleteJeffie, Rudy and Rosie want Rita to send her peanut butter and yogurt their way!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know there are proper dogs out there who love p.b. and yogurt! Rita is so odd sometimes...
DeleteDogs are the only prescription medicines I've taken for years. And no side effects.
ReplyDeleteYes! Good point - no side effects. (Except all that hair...)
DeleteWe dogs are such great medicine!!! And I am with Rita...peanut butter is horrid. Can't stand the stuff. Disgusting!
ReplyDeleteOz
Gosh, Oz, I think you're the first dog besides Rita I've met that doesn't like p.b.
DeleteI thought pups universally loved the stuff!
All the time, Boomer and Dottie are my cuddle buddies!
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday!
Oh, another lucky one w/ a double dose!
DeleteVery cute! How much bacon grease did you have to spread on Mike's shirt to get her to cuddle? ;-)
ReplyDeleteYeah... we admit... we are not above resorting to that. But amazingly, we haven't had to yet!
DeleteAww how cute! I've use injectable oxytocin before... on a turtle so she'd lay her eggs that were stuck. Good to know it has more than one use ;)
ReplyDeleteWow - who knew you could use it for such interesting things!
DeleteIf you lived next door, I would be right over for some pooch smooches. Seriously, I did not know any of this. Thank you for sharing such a wonder story.
ReplyDeleteHappy to share good info about pets! :)
DeleteMost of the time but right now he is in the middle of one of his "bark fests" and I am contemplating going far, far away :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, a bark fest probably has the opposite effect on stress levels. He's going to owe you some serious cuddling after!
DeleteI'm on a two-a-day dose minimum...with extras on an as-needed basis
ReplyDeleteI have to get my Max fix!!! He makes me smile everyday when the alarm goes off; what a great way to start the day - seeing Max's little face!!
ReplyDeleteOur dogs would be all over that food and probably knock anyone in the way over to get to it. I guess that would defeat the benefits of cuddling, huh? lol
ReplyDeleteAw, what a sweetie!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Rita! Finn is a great dose of oxytocin - and he usually knows I need it before I do!!!
ReplyDeleteRita is doing an awesome job with the cuddles!!
ReplyDeleteMy Mum is always sneaking an extra cuddle from me, even when I'm not in the mood - I do lots of cuddles on my therapy visits and everyone starts smiling!
I know Mum's getting lots of cuddles from her little niece this week, so I'm giving all mine to Dad and the kids,
Big Wags to all
Your pal Snoopy :)
There is no power greater than a dog for soothing an over-taxed soul. I am so glad your husband can find comfort with Rita. Sometimes, I don't know how people get through without animals to help.
ReplyDeleteI think the photo is adorable, light or no light.