I hate saying this but unfortunately, I’ve never had a dog. I know, I know what life have I been living, right? I’ve always loved dogs and pets but while I was growing up, my mom was allergic to dog fur (so much so that her face would turn red and she’d have a cough attack whenever she was around a dog for too long), and so I could never really have my own dog. But, my roommate has a dog that I’ve come to love him so much. Living with a dog now, I’ve come to realize why we consider our furry friends our best friends. Whether you have a big German Shepherd dog or a little Chihuahua best friend, dogs are a huge positive influence on our lives.

1. They love you unconditionally.

If you get mad at them, scream at them, step on their tail accidentally… it doesn’t matter. Your furry best friend will love you unconditionally and immensely (as long as you keep giving them treats and toys)

2. They wait for you to come back home every single day.

Watching a dog wait for its owner to come back from a long day of school/work is the most heart-warming image ever. You’re their entire world and they will wait for you all day to come back and give them some lovin’!

3. They'll play with you whenever you want.

You’re feeling bored or you need a stress reliever after studying for your exam next week? Your dog will save the day. One of the things I love the most about dogs is their positive energy all of the time. Their hyper personalities and excitement will always put a smile on anyone’s face.

4. They lick your tears.

No matter what happens, dogs will always be there to brighten up your mood. They’ll never judge you for crying- they love licking the tears away!

5. They cuddle with you when you need it.

In all honesty, we all need those late night cuddles and dogs are always there for you to caress and cuddle with them.

6. They protect you from harm, and warn you when harm's coming your way.

You never have to feel in danger with your dog, because no matter what, your dog will always protect you. The constant barking and aggressiveness might get annoying sometimes, but they need to protect their loved ones and they always will.

7. They always keep you company, no matter how alone you feel.

I know things can get tough sometimes and you might feel lonely, alone, or like nobody understands you. We all go through it. But no matter what, you’re never alone. Dogs will always be there for you no matter what, at whatever time, whenever you need them.

8. They teach you responsibility.

Even though I’ve never had a dog, I know that having a dog is literally like taking care of a child. You have to walk them, feed them, bathe them, and take care of them. Dogs allow you to care for something other than yourself, which means waking up at 7:00 AM to walk them in the morning!

9. They are loyal.

We’ve all had that one friend who has stabbed you in the back, or we’ve lost friends along the way. But our dogs are here to stay and will never betray you, their loyalty and friendship is what makes them so special to our hearts.

10. They are always there when you need them.

School has you stressed? Work has you down? You just got your heart broken and are eating a tub of ice cream on a Saturday night watching romantic comedy movies? Your dog is right there next to you, trying to get a lick of that ice cream too.