Keep Rolling Along

I never thought I'd be that dog—you've seen them too. The ones who look pawfectly healthy, but obviously very spoiled—because instead of using all four paws like every other neighborhood dog, they're getting pushed around, looking like dog snobs, thinking they're better than us, and too good to walk on green grass.

Well, that just happened to me! Not the part that I thought I was better than the other neighborhood dogs, although I am more well-behaved, but the part about being pushed around.

Here's why I had to 'Keep Rolling Along'... I was running along, doing what I always do—trying to get all four of my paws moving as fast as they could to reach my best ball before Mama ever could. Then I wouldn’t have to keep doing this over and over, when all I wanted was to keep my ball in my mouth and relax in the shade. But before Mama or I got close to my ball, the drama began that didn’t end any time soon!

I stepped into a hole in the very green grass. The pain in my paw was not good at all. And just like that, I had to walk on three paws instead of all four. Mama’s face looked like she’d seen a ghost. She picked me up and took me home as fast as she could.

She put a shoe on my paw – I’m not sure why. Next thing I knew, we were in our car driving faster than we ever should have been. And where did we land? I’m sure you can guess—at my least favorite place—the Emergency Hospital, only for pets.

This didn’t look like it was going to turn out too good for me. And definitely not for my Mama and her bank account either.

Then, a kind and smart vet took a look at my paw. He said what I had was a very bad sprain putting too much strain on my left back paw. I didn’t know what any of that meant. But before I could even ask for a treat, my paw was taped up with a silly sock over the top.

And then, the worst news of all – the vet, who I thought was a very kind vet, said no walking for me, not just for one week, but for two whole weeks. What the paw! Two weeks! That meant not going outside to play and explore. No running around and chasing my ball. No walks to the mailbox. No bringing our Amazon packages into the house. No sniffing around to find out all the neighborhood news. Just sitting at home, staring at my leash hanging by the door, with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

But as you prawbably know by now, my Mama is super smart and always has a plan – when things are good and especially when they’re not. So she went online as soon as we got home, and the next thing I heard, she was on the phone. Before I could say, “Can I have a treat?” we were back in the car, driving all the way across our town. I didn’t know where we were going, and I didn’t know why. But it must have been impawtent because for the second time that day, Mama was going faster than most. And all across town, we met a lovely lady who gave us a huge, big something – I had no idea what. But as soon as we got home, Mama started putting it together. OMP! That means Oh My Paw, like OMG. It had wheels. It had walls. It had windows and doors. It had a gianormous seat that I hoped wasn’t for me. But that was wishful thinking – because that huge something started to look like those strollers for DOGS – except this time that dog was definitely me!

This had to be the worst idea my Mama had ever had. I’m the friendliest, most people-loving, and well-known dog in the neighborhood. What would everyone think seeing me being pushed around and rolling along in a house on wheels that wasn't even my style? They’d think I looked silly, but so did I. Or even worse, maybe they'd think I was a lazy dog, or that I'd become one of those dog-snobs too good to walk on green grass. I’d lose all my friends. Life would be sad, and I’d be so mad.

I’d rather have stayed home for two weeks, staring at my leash and not eating treats.

But the rule in our house is that we can’t say no to something new, unless we’ve tried it at least once or maybe even twice. So, with a lot of attitude and not very kind looks at my Mama doing her best, I let her put me in the dog stroller she’d driven all the way across town to get just for me.

And as mad as I was, my story changed when my wheels started rolling and we were halfway down the street. Here's why: 1. At least I was getting out and about. 2. There wasn’t a dog in sight – not even one to think I was that dog-snob too good to walk on green grass. 3. Because I was high and not on the ground, the smells all around me came straight to my nose. 4. They were new and different, which meant I had to think really hard about what each one was – and I love thinking hard – so that was fun. 5. My ride stayed pretty smooth as we kept rolling along. 6. No puddles or mud to step into, so no bath for me when we got home. 7. Prickly plants had no chance of sticking to caramel brown fur. 8. More people than usual, and that means a lot, stopped by to say hi, to hear all about why my four paws were in a stroller and not on the ground. 9. And what made my heart feel so happy inside was when my friends Honey and Holly, and Sully and Shooter saw me coming by, they didn’t laugh or make fun, but looked kind of sad for me, and came over to say hi and see why I was in a big dog stroller. 10. So, once again, Mama was right and I was wrong, but this time it didn't bother me so much because I had loads of fun rolling along and enjoying the views I'd never seen before. Two weeks went by as quick as could be. And before I could blink, all four of my paws were back in the grass, and I could choose what to sniff and which puddles to jump in or not.

My sprained, strained paw and stroller fiasco turned into quite an adventure, and I learned a few things that I didn’t expect.

1.         Sometimes what’s always worked in the past might not work for everything in your life all the time. Sometimes you need four paws, and sometimes four wheels. Mama says we have to learn to adapt.

2.         If you tell yourself a story you don’t know is even true, so you don’t have to face things that are hard and scary to do, you miss out on what’s meant to help you grow. Mama says that’s when we get more than a sprained ankle in life.

3.         People and dogs that are good and kind and really care about you will never make fun of you or judge you when you’re having a hard time. Mama says that when you’re having hard times, it’s when you’ll know who loves you the most.

What about YOU? What lessons did you learn from my sprained, strained paw and stroller fiasco? Have you ever had something happen that stopped you from doing something you loved? Or learning a lesson you needed to know. I hope that as your life goes on, you’ll always find the wheels you need to keep moving ahead and avoid getting stuck, as I almost did.

Toffy xoxo #lifewithtoffy #toffysdogblog #thinkliketoffy

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