Life can be divided into four big areas:  Physical, Mental, Social, and Spritual.  I constantly have to advise Dr. Mac to always keep these in balance. But I face a problem...he doesn't always see the world as clearly as I do.  He always overcomplicates things...typical human!  So, here's what I tell him:

Physical Area

1.    Exercise 

    Notice how I stay active.  You know, I just love constantly chasing balls, sticks, and just about anything. It's in my genes. What I like best is getting the newspaper out of the mail box.   Dr. Mac thinks I'm crazy.  He often tells his wife, Grace, what a strange character that I am.  What he doesn't know is that I feel sluggish if I don't get a little running in for the day.  Man, it's horrible if I stay cooped up all day.  Nothing seems right unless I regularly get the blood running. What a feeling:  in a full run with heart pounding, breath pumping, and a light coat of perspiration.  Life can be good.

2.    Diet

    Just a brief note here.  I eat a balanced diet and I don't overeat.   Eat better and eat less.

    Eat Better. Why?  It's proven that cheap food goes two places:  in the "pooper scooper" and around my waist. I read some of the statistics on my food bag...80% of my food stays in my stomach while some cheaper foods leave 60% in the yard.

    Eat Less.  Again, it's in my genes and I will usually eat everything in front of me.  Wow! Have you seen all of my fat relatives around? I don't have a problem because Dr. Mac consistently "rations."  I guess he's been reading about the health benefits of keeping a reasonable body weight.

Mental Area

    I have a huge vocabulary.  And, Dr. Mac tells me that I'm pretty smart in fact, he's been spelling certain words when I'm around.  Yet, I've heard that if you don't use it, you lose it.  So, everyday I do some studying.  I practice my vocabulary.  I go through all of the role-plays that Dr. Mac makes me do everyday.  Confidentially, I'm getting a little tired of the same things...sit, roll-over, stop, stay, no/no/no/no, etc...Dr. Mac, get a life and get more creative.  I'm smart!

Social Area

    Oh my, my..let me tell you, this is my Achille's heel!  I just love visitors.  I love new friends.  I love being around others. In fact, I'm almost obsessed about it. Why?  I learn from them and I think that there is some sort of health benefit; and, I don't think this is New Age stuff either.  Must be some kind of benefit.  I always feel so good around others.

Spiritual Area

    What this means to me is that all things come from the same source.  Indeed there seems to be some kind of commonality among all things.  What I'm trying to do here is just to be aware of it.  Sometimes Dr. Mac comes home and sees me sitting in the sun and smelling and listening to the cool breeze whisking the tips of the pine trees around our house.  Yeh, I probably do look lazy and sleepy, but, I'm really just being in the present and aware of how lucky I am to be alive.  Yes, I'm a meaningful part of this universe.