Fall 2025

O ne of the reasons dogs love Carmel so much is because our beautiful white sand seashore is an official “off-leash” beach. Ac- cording toWinifred, that means she can finally let go of my leash and not worry about where and with whom I might want to play.Which does not prevent me and my fellow off-leash primates from spoiling the peaceful shore with boisterous palavering. Which led me to ask guests at our Carmel Visitors Center what they thought about expanding our beach rules to read: “Dogs Off-Leash. People Muzzled.” Amazingly, folks from all over the country thought it was a wonderful idea! They all smiled, thinking of a few folks they’d like to muzzle. And yes, Winifred would surely put moi at the top of her list. Our best furry friends get it. And we know they get it.We put stickers on our cars that say “Wag More. Bark Less!” Easier done for our fur-babies. They have tails to wag. We don’t. So we wag our mouths on and on when a simple gesture, or small behav- ior might communicate our needs and feelings just as well— if not better. In some Greek cave yet to be unearthed there must be something scratched on a wall that translates to:“Man’s words define him, until his actions reveal the truth.” In other words, behavior trumps blarney. Everything our dogs do reminds us to “Shut up and show me!” Their behavior shows us how they feel, what they want and what they need from us.When I am about to sit down and read, andWinifred beats my butt onto the chair with a leash in her mouth and tail furiously wagging, do I really need a verbal translation? And if I get rambling interminably about anything, the look in Winnie’s eyes is pure Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” when she sings to her smitten suitor, Freddy Eynsford-Hill… Words, words, words/I’m so sick of words/ I get words all day through/First from him, now from you/ Is that all you blighters can do?… Don’t talk of stars burning above/If you’re in love/Show me ! Truer words were never sung.Which may be the reason we often find it easier to express our deepest feelings through song. No room for a meandering diatribe skating around what we really want to say.The great composers and lyricists make every note, every word count. Yet, unlike our canine family, we humans seem determined to fill every second between the notes with chatter. Of which, I admit to being a prime offender. Not to diminish the power of the thoughtful written word. “If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little”—Tom Stoppard. But that, too, is in short supply today, thanks to our obsession with texting. But at least we are not wasting a tsunami of syllables when the per- fect emoji will suffice. The truth is we bond with our animal family in a way that has little to do with our endless palavering. What they really want from us are belly rubs, back massages and behind the ear scratches. And so do we. Is there anything better than doggy snuggles, cuddles and love licks, when we are hurting? And that wordless connection with our furry family helps protect us from a chaotic world which seems determined on a lot more barking than wagging. And if we can’t seem to bark less, then at least woof more. Even Winifred knows she gets more from me with a gentle woof than a heart- stopping BARK! On cue, Winifred jumps on my lap, looks at the laptop screen where I am writing this, then beats her tail about my face and mouth. ’Nough said. A screenwriter and best-selling golf humorist in a previous life, Mark Oman forsook his golf addiction and took up with Winifred, co-author of their screenplay, “Murder, Misfits and Mutts!” Mark and Winnie live in Carmel with four-legged little sister, Molly, and two-legged wife, Barbara. Contact Winifred (or Mark) at: mark@markoman.com . DOG TALES M A R K O M A N Is there anything better than doggy snuggles, cuddles and love licks, when we are hur ting? Dogs Off-Leash, People Muzzled 54 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 5