Why did I get this dog?
“Let me be the sort of person my dog thinks I am.” Wow – now, that’s deep stuff. Our dogs think we are wonderful for the most part. They see us as the source of all things good. It is very soothing for the ego to come home from being battered by the world all day long and have your dog greet you like you are the most important thing ever in the history of ever!
Its okay, sometimes I forget why I picked you too.
Unconditional love. They love us despite our screw ups. Yeah, we all give our kids enough stuff to spew on the therapist couch for as long as they desire. They have to, at some point, just get over what horrible parents we were and move on despite us. Our puppies have forgotten how we jumped up and down and screamed like fools just…minutes before.
They not only love us always but forgive us our sins, almost immediately. And they Never bring it up Again. Nice.
You did what to me? When? I don't remember that! I just remember the love!
Laughter. Having a dog is FUN. They like to play, which is good for us – and they make us laugh. This is something I remind people all the time in class – you got this dog for fun. Enjoy! This stage, phase, issue will pass, really, and the dog will be enjoyable again. Laugh. Its NOT a matter of life and death, really.
I get away with everything because mom just smiles everytime she sees me. Life is good!
Exercise. Sometimes after working all day, all I want to do is come home and collapse in an exhausted heap. When I walk, I feel better. Its almost spring – dog is ready for longer walks and so am I.
Learning. People get very frustrated with me sometimes in class. “How come she does it for you and not for me??” Because number one, I do this forty hours a week. I research. I learn. This is not only my full time job but my passion. I practice. But even if its NOT your full time job, just learning new things to teach your dog, or new ways to outsmart him, will teach you things too. You aren’t too old to learn Either.
Think you're smart as I am? Just keep thinking that...
Pride. Sometimes, often, our kids and dogs let us down. “Show grandma how you count to ten!” Ummm…no. Not so much. “See how good you go to your mat!” Kidding, right? But occasionally there is that flash of genius and greatness from our dogs or puppies. I LOVE it when people look at me beaming delightedly “he DID IT!” And I have to beam back, “I KNOW! SO cool, yes??”
Cuddles and kisses. Awww, come on, none of us every get enough of that. Its what makes life worth living and our dogs do it better than most.
Wanna kiss? Come here, just a little bit closer!
Life itself. You have really no clue how many couples, women, people, have told me “this dog has just given me so much life, brought so much life back to our house, me” and sometimes, they mean that quite literally. I recently graduated a dog whose dad had been in bed for weeks ‘recovering’ from an illness when she showed up on the doorstep. His wife told me, “I thought I was going to lose him, he was so depressed he wouldn’t even move.” Dog got him out of bed, out of the house, out of his depression, back into the world.
Think I'll be that important when I grow up?
Enjoyment. THAT is why you got the dog – to make your life richer. Really. Remember now?