A Very Good Dog Who Taught Me Some New Tricks.

Read more strike coverage on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

I have learned a few tricks from my exceptionally sweet-natured dog, Trip, who is a three-legged pit-lab-something mix.

He was given to me four years ago, when he was eight months old. I did not appreciate being given a three-legged dog, and resisted for a moment, but the actor Bradley Cooper, my pal and neighbor, insisted that this dog fit me. I fell in love -- but it was too late. Bradley took him back, but left him with me over a long weekend, because he could not take ALL his dogs (he has two others) to the beach hotel he was repairing too with his girlfriend at the time. By the time Bradley came back, I said I would keep him. Mr. Cooper let me twist in the wind for a sleepless night, (his intention all along), and then handed him over. We have been together since. Most nights.

When Mr. Cooper gave him to me, his name was Courage, which I rejected as too literal, and too dog-shelter-anointed. I was a basket case then, in shell-shock over the trifecta of the dissolution of a 12-year relationship, the awfulness of seeing my neighborhood covered in ash, horror and soldiers, and the death of my dad by a slow and nasty cancer which my brothers and mom and I got as close to as you can imagine. I had fled Tribeca for Venice, because it was fun there when I was a kid, was still horizontally oriented, and not as much part of Hollywood as the rest of the the dream-coast.

Trip (yeah, sorta short for tripod), has no idea that something is missing on him. He looks like he was borne out of a key party between a tame seal, a gentle fawn and a whacked-out kangaroo. He disarms all other dogs, no matter how aggressive. His tail seems like a propeller from a 1950s cartoon helicopter. He runs very fast for no reason, and flies between coasts, mildly drugged but thrilled, like someone from a Jackie Collins novel in first class when it used to be upstairs on Pan Am. His distinguishing feature is a profound and abiding emotionality. He gets sad, he gets happy, and most of the time those two things have to do with me and my Chekhovian moods. He tries to get me to go on walks, with great success. And on said walks, he often looks at me, and I swear to god, smiles like a goof, as if to say: "Hey, this is really really fun, Robbie, right, Robbie, huh!!?"

Trip has many friends, both human and canine. Actors love him in particular, because his level of adoration for them is off the charts. Perhaps he intuits my own.

Anyway, this is by way of sharing some of what he's taught me and what I am using from his lessons lately.

1. Be optimistic whenever possible. For instance, if your union is on strike, say, and you are looking to a terrible winter, try and share your toys. Like Trip does with the other dogs.

2. If something doesn't work, try another path. For instance, if the studio where you have a deal decides to force-majeur your smart-ass Huffingtonizing ass after you ask in print how the CEO of the corporation that owns said studio can look himself in the mirror, go find a new way to make stuff! Woof! Get your pals, and take your skills and your toys, and create a new market, a new forum, where you are your own boss (ie build your own on-line studio with the same wits that got a show on the air and in the top 20).

3. Be persistent. Don't stop staring and hinting and wagging until the person you want to play with pays attention, but if they don't want to play, take a nap or chew on a bone.
If they still don't want to play -- wasn't meant to be and - look! Someone fun this way comes!

4. No need to be aggressive, a priori. But if you are attacked, let the pitbull flag fly. Show your muscle, show your teeth, and that should work. If not, and the bad faith ultimatum delivering big media guy - I mean - bad dog - keeps going, well then, "cry havoc and let slip the dogs of..".etc.

5. Remember your friends forever, forever, forever, and let them know that you love them and need them.

6. You have many friends. This is good. A blessing. We need friends. We really do. We need a best friend. A best friend can be silent and interested, and even just check in and smile now and then. They do not need to be entertained, but you need to be there for them in a fight, for instance, with a cartel of giant media-monster giants who have the manners of wildcats, the bellicosity of Tasmanian devils, and the cunning of wolverines.

7: When sleeping with a human, sometimes it's fun to lick them in the middle of the night for no reason, or get really, really, really close, especially in winter.

8: Exercise will save you. You need to be fit to fight, love, jump, picket, run, and so on.

9: A dog will always be a dog. Nothing less and often a lot more. So too will humans,
occasionally. Even your opponent.

These are some of the lessons I have learned from my dog Trip, who is courageous indeed despite the name change. The other night we heard field mice in my wall and he did look a little alarmed, I will admit. but it was sort of a skit he was doing. He is actually really funny, which is the best lesson of all.

Read more strike coverage on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

Comments

[Mulligan]

Excellent article! A life without dogs is not a life worth living in my opinion. I have twelve, quite by accident, (or perhaps serendipty?), but each and every one of them is a blessing which brings joy to my life.

[5150]

Catty types rhyme witch with Hillary to dog people's looks. I say, you go girl! Not Huckabee didn't invent political triangulation.

[ahornick]

Congratulations on a having a good friend.

The three-legged street dog we adopted while on assignment in Romania has taught me to accept life's limitations and then "get over it".

[nkeneally]

Robbie,
I love your posts and been meaning to let you know. Snow and ice bound is a good opportunity.
All best wishes for your continued success.
Nina K. (with my best friend Wilson asleep on my
feet)

[larry278]

You & Trip may not have noticed but the industry's swift gray [grey] hounds have lapped you four times on the moto-cross track you writers insist on using. Three legged dogs may have a quaint & charming cachet but they don't win dog races. While well meaning animal lovers continue to make great efforts to rescue hounds who can't keep up with the pack in dog races & turn them into pets-a lot of the slow mutts are still destroyed & dumped before they can be resuced & adopted by loving sentimental people like you. In the producers & distributors world the ruthless race for profits is still won by the swift; they own the track & set the rules. Don't count your royalty payments from your work which may appear on as yet un-invented recording which may appear in x-years. In show biz the talented & creative are still the prey of the owners & agents. LOL, LeRoy.

[SmolderingRuin]

What a cutie. Is that his little house?

[yooper2]

Right on-People should learn from dogs(Pets)

[willowbarcelona]

This is perfect. Thank you for writing it. Almost ten years ago after a number of deaths in my family, the dissolution of a relationship, and unexpected financial ruin, my one-year-old golden retriever and I went to live in Barcelona, where I worked in the soup kitchen and she and I walked miles every day. She saved my life. She is getting old now and each day I know there is no way to repay her for the very hard work she undertook to keep me upright and positive except by giving her the best old age possible. And isn't that what we all deserve? Hats off to you, Trip, and to your forever friend Jon.

[dannyS]

Congratulations on having a great companion.
Dogs rock, especially the ones with character.
When you rescue a dog it feels good because they need you, and from then on you need them.

[QueenCeleste]

Trip is a very handsome boy. You are so lucky to have one another. For almost 17 years I had a three-legged cat. He was found wandering as a small kitten, dragging a mangled back leg. I thought he would need special attention, but he had no trouble getting around. In fact he was lightning fast and ruled the roost, including two very large cats who lived in holy fear of him, and rightly so. (He did have a bit of a Napolean complex.) He had enormous lemur-like eyes and made the sweetest meows when "talking" to me. We shared the closest bond I've ever had with an animal, and I miss him dearly.

Your lovely post was the most moving I have read in ages. You're so right; they can teach us so much. Bless you and Trip, and all good wishes for a lovely holiday season.

[Usiku]

I love the connection between man and nature, especially how we can draw life lessons from these relationships. This reminds me of similar understanding gained in the short story, "Why We Need Peach Trees & Kids."
http://usiku.net/peachtrees.htm

[mbarlow]

What a lovely and provocative description of brave Trip dealing with your Chekhov moods. I've really enjoyed your posts here -- re the strike and its Mizlansky/ Zilansky origins. All best. M

[mariadealbuquerque]

Hi, from Lisbon, Portugal.
One of the greatest portuguese poets of all times (Fernando Pessoa) once wrote on a poem he called "Happiness demands bravery" : "stones on my path? I keep them all! One day I'll built a castle!!!"
I'm sure you'll built your "castle" with the stones they put on your way.
Your dog is beautiful!
Your show is the only american tv show I didn't miss one episode (season 1). With the present situation I'm afraid the portuguese public network where it was on wont buy the second season. I'll surely miss Sally Field, Matthew Rhys and Luke Macfarlane.
Be brave!!!

[Troubledgoodangel]

It's a sensible unassuming tale by a a sensible human being, Jon Robin Baitz. It's also a breath of fresh air from Vick, the promoter of dog fights, who disgusted the entire world! We humans do not do that! People who expose animals to pain and unnecessary death shame all human race! God gave us dominion over the animals not to torture them, but to treat them with compassion and understanding! A dog cannot say no if it is sent to die. It is incumbent upon humans to protect it from any such eventuality. A man who does this evil to a dog, is coward of the highest order, a bloody coward with a pitch dark soul! It's not the color of the skin what matters here, but the nobility of the heart! Our nobility determines who we are as people! By the way, the photo of the little cabin is lovely!

[cutter]

#10-If negotiations fall apart and you really want the corporate guys to SIT-give them a cookie.

[justatweak]

Quite nice, thank you. Keep up the hard work, so many of us ancillary industries/co-union members understand and are pulling for you. All of you.

[Ryter]

Trip is a treasure! And I sure hope that Trip will have enough kibbles after the nasty force-majeur clause is put into effect. We all know that the human in Trip's life will do the right thing by labor. Much the same way that Trip has adapted to his 3 legs, humans adapt to a changing industry. I'm sorry to hear that "Brothers & Sisters" may be in jeopardy. I understand the collateral loss from these strikes is monumental - and no matter what, neither Jon nor Trip will have lost their talents and charms. Onward!

Jon, please don't pick up that other trick that Trip no doubt does - smelling other's behinds.

[ERose]

Sometimes my dog is the only thing that keeps me going. This post makes me want to read the James Herriot series all over again.

Three cheers and a deep bow for the regal nature of canines...no matter how goofy or how reserved, they always manage a little noblesse oblige.

[hopehappens]

Thanks so much for such a beautiful story. You are so right about the character of dogs. What beautiful souls they have. Mine rescued me four years ago, and I can't imagine life without her.

[Truthortradition]

Trip looks like a dog that was meant to be loved.
Great story.
My dog, PJ, short for Pride and Joy, is now 14 years old and I shamelessly consider him the love of my life. Had him since he was 9 weeks old.
He filled an empty place in my heart the size of Texas. Saved me from throwing in the towel after my divorce. He gave me courage to endure a physical disablity. He is the best investment I've ever made in life, both emotionally or financially. Not my whole life, but makes my life whole. And is sitting by my side to this day, wagging his old tail and bossing me around. Dogs do rule.

[peggio]

Both Snixie (the wonder spaniel)and I thank you for the wonderful post.
We rescued each other nearly seven years ago shortly after the death of Princess Dogwood Rose of Kentucky (of the champion bloodlines).
Snix was found running on "Wide, wide Dixie highway" through 10 lanes of traffic. He ran his way into my heart and remains firmly planted. Tomorrow he has surgery to remove a large tumor on his left hind leg and I've feared removal of the leg as possible. Hearing about Trip reassured me that if that's the case we'll be okay!
Every day the studios remain more stubborn is another witless day of television. We are with you 200% per cent. Thanks for all the pleasure you've brought us.
Snix (an avid tv watcher) and his person, Peggy

[LaraineNewman]

Beautiful Robbie. The other night my husband and I were watching some show called Lockdown that profiled two inmates. Clearly one of them was so dangerous and frightening. My husband said "That's what scares me. That's why we have alarms in the house. I want to keep us and our girls safe." I said to him "Its so much more likely that big corporations will succeed in crushing our unions. The injustice of that and the dwindling paycheck for a job I love and have spent my whole life doing scares me. That's much more likely to happen than some cracker with tattoos coming through our door." I tell you, your essay was so uplifting. I've been so depressed about this whole thing. Thanks man.

[SaviourMachine]

Truly lovely,Jon,thank you.

Trip is a handsome fella.My guess is he is an old soul with the heart of a puppy.

It never ceases to amaze me that we share much of the same basic emotions as dogs and other animals joy, sadness, playfulness, grief, contentment, frustration, loyalty,attachment,loss,jealousy,courage and fear,etc.

But where we differ is their inate and instinctual willingness to live in the now,in the present.

Dogs(cats and animals in general) part ways with us humans, as they do not indulge in self pity or self loathing,they are always ready to start a new with the right guidance,meaning,we humans should be more than willing to investigate their lanquage/psychology/laws of nature, which can only perpetuate insights into our own beings.

P.S. I support whole heartedly the writers strike.
I freelance,not as a professional writer,although I wrote and illustrated stories as a child and now write as a necessity to counter balance the koo-koo-kooroo times we live in.Fingers crossed the childrens book (with themes, re; learning, imagination, loss,prejudice) will find it's way out of my head and published.

I truly find it a shame that the responses to your posts re; the writers strike is so lacking in understanding of what you and your colleagues are striving for and against.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers!

[jeskiley]

Beautiful lawn! It sounds like you have alot to be grateful for, especially after reading number 7.

[JKalos]

Thanks for the essay on your dog. It made me smile and feel happy.

Good luck to you and all the writers.