Why do some dogs “shake it off”? Patti’s dog Wally is a Havanese breed and, as with most dogs, he periodically gives himself a good shake. Usually it is after a dog event, like when he is finished barking at the FedEx delivery man at the front door, or when he is done rolling around to relieve an itch. Dogs apparently use the “shake it off” behavior to end a sentence or finish a task. So here I am wondering why us humans don’t “shake it off” sometimes instead of mouthing off. After a bad spell at the office, just shake it off instead of going off the deep end. Managing our differences requires a good night’s sleep and some self-control, and they may be in short supply. So instead of confronting, just shake it off. Too much energy and time is spent on the back and forth. We don’t always have to have the last word. I suggest, to minimize conflict we simply, figuratively, “shake it off”. Even Wally knows that barking will only get him so far, so he shakes it off and waits patiently by his bowl to be fed or at the door to be let out. We humans can learn something from our pets.
