WARNING: This introduction is briefly depressing but I promise it gets better!
A little over a month ago, my family had to put our dog down. His name was Winston, we had him for 13 years, and his ridiculous underbite and “love me” eyes could melt your heart in seconds. It was a difficult loss for my family, but it honestly did not hit me right away. It wasn’t until a few weeks later when I got home from work one day and immediately called out his name, expecting him to come running to greet me. I hadn’t done that in a while but for some reason on that particular day, the habit suddenly resurfaced. Of course he was nowhere to be found and following the pang of depression, I began to realize how much I took him for granted. I sat down and thought about it for a little while and was able to come up with some reasons that dogs are truly the best friends we’ve ever had.
1. Dogs are loyal.
As humans, we desperately want a perfect world for ourselves and spend most of our lives trying to build one. We go through many stages where our love interests, job hunts and material desires vary. On the other hand, once dogs recognize you as their owner and caretaker, they make YOU their whole world forever. When you get home, they are likely the first one to greet you with smiles, kisses and barks. If you’re having a bad day, they’ll often be the one waiting patiently to cheer you up and play. Even the dashing types who run out the door the minute you open it will usually come back once you call their name. Too often we place our trust in people who do not deserve it. The type of loyalty a dog offers is hard to find in this world, so remember that and appreciate it.
2. Dogs love to play.
Okay I realize this one seems childish but come on, who doesn’t love a friend who is always down to play? Dogs are so easily entertained. They’ll do anything from playing fetch to playing tag to dressing up in Build-A-Bear clothes (maybe that last one only applies to my dog…). And you know what’s even better? They will play with you for HOURS if you really want to. Most dogs you encounter will chase down a tennis ball over and over again until you’re the one who needs a break. They never get tired of having fun with you and will play the exact same game the next day. Dogs are the friends who never get sick of us and find everything we do exciting. Those are the kinds of friends you keep around.
3. Dogs don’t judge you.
If you have not found a friend who does not judge you regardless of how badly you screw up or how weird you are, maybe you should consider getting a dog (but really, it solves everything). No matter your shortcomings or mistakes, you can bet that at the end of the day when you’re down or upset, your dog will be right there to remind you how loved you are. Whether you want them in your face or not, dogs have no concept of boundaries so they will find a way to force themselves into your personal space to show you some affection. You might be annoyed at first, but dogs have a way of breaking down your walls and making you feel accepted and appreciated when you get down on yourself. Not to mention dogs are wonderful listeners. This is probably because they can’t talk, but you can always count on someone to vent to!
4. Dogs don’t hold grudges.
Many times, dogs can be the reason for our anger or frustration (hey, I never said dogs were perfect). We’ve all arrived home to find a chewed up rug or a trash can knocked over and lots of times we make a way bigger deal out of it than what is actually necessary. Whether we deserve it or not, dogs will always come back to us even after we’ve yelled and screamed a little bit. The two-second rebound of a dog’s feelings is a blessing for us humans who can be temperamental and hot headed (referring to myself here). You will very rarely find a human friend who can forgive and forget that easily.
5. Dogs aren’t afraid to look stupid.
I’m not sure what sorts of theories there are about dogs and their self-awareness, but I am pretty sure that my dog had no idea what he looked like. He was a tiny mixed Terrier who liked to act like a Rottweiler when strangers passed by our house. Besides that, dogs in general just aren’t afraid to look stupid with you and enjoy every minute of it. They are not trying to impress anyone or fit in anywhere, so the personality you get is the real thing. They are unapologetically goofy and completely genuine, which are two traits you cannot find in everyone.
Looking back on life with my dog, I am very happy with the friendship we shared. However, I definitely think there were times I took him for granted. The reasons above might seem silly or simple, but they are truly at the heart of what makes an irreplaceable friend. Dogs will be there to enjoy the fun times, sticky by you through the rough times, and after all your wandering through this harsh world, they will always be there to welcome you home.
