Hello fellow dog lover,

If you are like me, a dog has put paw prints on your heart and nothing will take that away. I love all the furry creatures and pets in our world, but dogs will always be at the top of the list. My love for dogs started on a cold December day in 2007 when I was introduced to my furry baby love, Mason. He was a little mixed breed the store called a teddy bear and that description fits him perfectly since he was just so cuddly. Today, the same little puppy is 9 years old but is still the cutest furry face you could ever meet. In honor of the 9 years, he has been a part of my family, he has given me 9 reasons why dogs like him will always love their people until the end of their days.

1. They are always up for a nap.

Most dogs are home alone for part of the day, so naturally, they are going to sleep until their human comes home to entertain them again. However, sometimes their human wants to sleep in the middle of the day too, and they are more than happy to take another snooze…in the middle of your bed, belly up, taking up the spot where you are most comfortable. Maybe next time, I’ll let him nap downstairs.

2. Unless you want a crazy animal barking at you for hours, spelling is sometimes necessary.

Dogs know certain words like walk, bath, vet and treat and if you want to be somewhat discreet, spelling these words is the better way to go.

3. They will always be there to catch your table scraps.

If you have a dog, you never eat alone. Whether it's the bacon from breakfast, the chips at lunch or the chicken nuggets at dinner, they will be there, staring you down, just hoping that you will “accidentally” drop something, or better yet, lick the plate.

4. They are adorable but gullible.

No matter what you say, they will always trust you if you talk to them like they are your baby. Even if that means telling a white lie from time to time.

5. They will comfort you when you are sick.

Your dog knows something is wrong when you come home unexpectedly and give them a weak hello. You are either sick or you forgot who they were. No dog wants to see their human less than 100% every second of the day, so they will sit by you (but not too close) and make sure that you have a buddy while you recover. You would do the same for them (especially after they got into the garbage and threw up all over the kitchen).

6. They will lick your tears away… literally.

Sometimes the world doesn’t love you like your dog does, and it can make you want to cry and wish your problems away. Now, your dog isn’t going to take your problems away, but they will gladly climb up on your lap and gently lick your tears away (they’re salty after all). I take that back, your dog will take your problems away because their love is greater than any problem.

7. The littlest things make them excited.

You are walking through the kitchen and accidentally step on your dog’s favorite toy. SQUEAK…. they come running like they did as a puppy and demand you throw it across the house again and again. Or you open the refrigerator and grab the bag of carrots. Before you can turn around, there they are, whimpering and whining, hoping that you will give them one. The birds, squirrels, leaves, bugs, or basically anything that disrupts their little world is sure to cause a reaction that while a little annoying, reminds us to stop and pay attention to what makes us happy in our world.

8. They are the best Netflix buddy.

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon and it's time for a mini Netflix marathon. The minute they hear the theme song to your favorite show, your dog jumps up and snuggles up next to you to resume their fourth nap of the day, while you enjoy some quality time with your furry friend.

9. No matter what mood you are in or how rough your day is going, they will always love you (especially if you take them on a W-A-L-K).

Dogs are a lot like people when it comes to affection. Unless you give them a reason not to, they will love you more than any treat or chew toy because you are their human. You let them sleep in your bed, you make food magically appear in their bowls and you take them on car rides. In return, they give you the one thing they have… an unlimited supply of kisses and tail wags.

To all the furry loves out there, thank you for always being your happy self and making humans like us thankful that we brought you home to change our lives for the better. You will always be a good boy (or girl)!

Love,

A fellow dog lover