There's nothing like a good stick

I love sticks. Did you know the stick was inducted into the World Toy Hall of Fame? And for good reason. As a kid, sticks are anything in your imagination: a sword, magic wand a baton — great for mock marksmanship and building forts. They're plentiful, free and almost always unique — what with their crooks and knots, forks and bark.

Sticks are seminal. There I said it. After all, the stick was arguably man's first or second tool, fashioned into a spear. Upon the arrival of fire, sticks were fire keepers and pokers — eventually a reliable source of light ala the torch.

Most importantly.. the stick has earned it's place in bonding man and man's best friend, the dog. Before the advent of neon-colored chew toys and tennis balls did the stick reign supreme. Perhaps dogs were conditioned to snap up pieces of meat tossed their way by cave dwellers, eventually substituting a stick when food ran low.

Sticks might be primitive but they're enduring. Playful but powerful at the same time, citing Teddy Roosevelt "Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick!" Sticks remind us that not everything meaningful has to be complicated.

These notions aren't so far fetched 😏 but the reason we bring it up is it's helpful to pause and remember the simple delights in life. Dogs help us remember what fun is. With little more than a wag, they kindle our spirits too and help us to seize the day.

So pick up a stick sometime and see how your dog takes to it. They're often at least good for a bit of tug of war, plus if they don't much fancy the stick — all the better for you to enjoy! Happy Trails!

FFP Team