SCIENCE ANSWERS THE QUESTION ABOUT A DOG AND SLEEP AND A HYPNOTIC REACTION

Is sleep important for a dog?

Our initial response is “Does a fat puppy’s tail wiggle?".
But, we must trust the science, as is said. We answer this question, thus, with an experiment of observation conducted for this weekend's edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
I think you’ll appreciate the scientific nature of this exercise.

I spotted one of our rescued dogs, Porche Noel (i.e., found on the porch at Christmas) sleeping on the back of our expensive couch, originally designed for humans, but clearly suited for canine occupation.
Quickly grabbing my 21st century camera and hoping it wouldn’t ring while I was focusing on Porche, I snapped a photo of this sweet dog out like a light in her comfy position.

In the background, you can see my assertivespouse Martha’s personal dog, Wendy, rescued away from an unpleasant situation on a busy Dallas street. Wendy is always interested in what’s going on in her house. She watched as I snapped the shots of Porche but did not comment.

With the first clicking of a photo, Porche awoke.
 Here you see a facial expression that displays disgust with the photographer while also illustrating how Porche, who studied under the 20th century comic strip star, Mandrake the Magician, is able to “Stare hypnotically” at a human, thus forcing that human to “move along, now,” as an authority figure might say. I did move along.
 The "look" on that dog's face gives me chills.
That "move along, now" was a searing response from a dog who stands barely as tall as the top of support socks reaching to a point just beneath a fat man’s dimpled knees. So, quickly, I realized we had scientifically uncovered unarguable proof that sleep is important for a dog. Particularly this one.
Later, I found sweet Porche piled up in the middle of our bed and locked into a slumberpose indicating that, though she is nearly human in most situations, once that dognap gene kicks in, she is the quintessential example of a sleeping dog who is being let lie.
She and her household staffer, the author of this piece, are currently working on a volume of 21st century literature that will focus on answering the ancient question: Can insomniacs be taught to sleep? 
And her initial scientific response has been, “Keep the camera out of my face, yawnboy.”
Such a dear dog. That’s the photo we’ll use on the bookjacket. 
She was free, you know. Didn’t cost a dime. Got a free dog in Dallas. That has long been just another complimentary service provided by the City of Dallas. Keep your eyes open in your Dallas neighborhood and you, too, may get a free dog without having to visit a Dallas Animal Services adoption facility. 

Of course, no matter where you get your free dog, you will not find one as wonderful as Porche Noel. She’s got breeding. 
Well, not really “breeding,” but you could take her to meet the queen and she’d do her darnedest to simulate the behavior of a royal Corgi. She does snore, however. Refuses to wear her night mask and gave me a set of ear plugs earlier this month. “Autumn brings on my snores — it’s the time change,” she explained. “Insomniacs will understand.”

[DEAR READERS: Please send photos of your sleeping dogs, napping cats or any other critter that catches a few winks to [email protected]. Tell us how you got ‘em and why you love ‘em. We’ll spotlight these adored family members in readlarrypowell.com's long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You’ll help other people decide to open their homes to animals. And you’ll help insomniacs have hope that they, too, can sleep if they can just learn to mimic that hypnotic glare in this photograph.]
— Offer ideas or lullabies by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and putting FLUFF THE PILLOW AND SHUT YOUR YAP” in the subject line. —-