When we think of the people we love, we generally categorize certain things we love about them and why. We tend to say something along the lines of: you’re so fun, so smart, so kind, funny, generous, loving, etc.

You love your mom because she gives you her wise insight and always offers her shoulder when you need someone to cry on.

You love your dad because there’s no one you would rather watch a sports game with and because he’s always on your side.

You love your significant other (or yourself) (all the single ladies) because they compliment you and hug you and maybe take you out to a nice dinner every once and a while.

You love your friends because there’s always something to talk about when you’re with them and you can be your complete weird and obnoxious self around them.

But have you ever thought about why you love your dog so much?

In comparison to all of the other loved ones in your life, your dog isn’t exactly up to snuff with the rest of them. He can’t console you with his words when you’re crying, or wrap his arms around you when you’re sad. He can’t pick you up in his car and take you out to your favorite restaurant. Sadly, he can’t vent with you, and he can’t crack jokes to try to get you to smile.

Yet a majority of us still consider our dog a substantial part of our lives, a member of the family, and a best friend. And this is for one reason:

Your dog is genuinely interested in whatever you are doing.

Think about it. They’re the first four legs to meet you at the door every day when you walk into the house.

Their tail is wagging behind them so fast that you think it might fall off. They look up at you with those brown puppy eyes. They jump around and up on your leg and maybe even let out a couple of “welcome home” barks just for good measure. Day after day, their reaction to us simply coming through the door is always the same. They’re so excited to see us that it just comes natural to be excited to see them, too.

When you’re just lying around the house being lazy, they’re more than likely somewhere nearby keeping you company. You can almost always count on them to sniff the floor or your face, whichever seems to be more appealing that day. When you’re in the kitchen cooking dinner, there they are again looking up at you just waiting for you to drop at least something. They’ll cuddle up next to you and give you kisses, regardless of the type of day they had.

A dog has one job. To love. And that’s all they have to do. Our dogs win us over, simply by giving us love, day in and day out. To love with such excitement and enthusiasm and persistence that we have no other choice other than to love them in return. Their small gestures of concern and "puppy" love bring about our strong feelings of affection toward them.

Dogs don’t try and get us to become interested in them by talking about who they are, what they wear, where they work or who they work for, how much money they make, what college they went to, what astrological sign they are, what car they drive, or just how cool they really are.

And I can guarantee we’ve all encountered people like this on a first introduction, if not many more encounters after that. When they meet somebody new, they try to make people interested in them by shoving so many personal pronouns of me, my, and I into a person’s face that it can get old pretty fast. Instead of trying to make people interested in them, they should instead try and become genuinely interested in others. Just like a dog.

Ask more questions, spark conversation, find out what they love, what they hate. And with this sincere concern for others, others will be concerned with you. Time to take a little lesson from our canine friends. Be loyal, forgive always, greet others with great enthusiasm, remember the importance of listening and show unconditional love and compassion by being genuinely concerned with others.