It all starts when you have your first family dog. If you are fortunate enough to grow up with a dog, or two, by your side, you’ll understand what I mean. Your childhood dog becomes your best friend. You come home from school each day and they are waiting for you right by the front door, like they haven’t seen you in years. They jump on you, give you slobbery dog kisses, and bark until they get your attention. They’re your companion – and the best cuddle buddy a little kid could ask for.

My piano teacher once told me that she lives by one motto in life: “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” That was years ago yet I never forgot it. My family has had many dogs and though it is the absolute worst when they grow old and die, it is all a part of life. Losing my original childhood dog was the first time I experienced loss through death. Dogs teach us life lessons without even realizing it.

A few weeks ago we watched A Dog’s Purpose which my mom and I thought was the best movie, causing us to laugh and cry simultaneously. The end quote really gets to you – even if you aren’t usually a softie. “Have fun, obviously. Whenever possible, find someone to save and save them. Lick the ones you love. Don’t get all sad faced about what happened and scrunchy-faced about what could. Just be here now. Be. Here. Now. That’s a dog’s purpose.”

The movie got me thinking of what a dog’s purpose truly is and if they even know how much they impact their owners. A dog can be someone’s only companion, a therapy aide, someone’s only source of “sight”, a police officer’s partner, an army officer’s biggest helper, or it can simply just be a dog. But, dogs never seem to be just dogs, they tend to become much more – a best friend. (I know, it all seems a bit mushy but you can’t say you didn’t cry in A Dog’s Purpose or Marley & Me)

A dog’s loyalty is unmatched. Josh Billings once said, “A dog is the only thing in the world who loves you more than he loves himself.” It’s just kind of nice to think about that. One of the most special things about dogs is that they don’t even realize what their purpose is – they just are how they are. Dogs love you unconditionally and brighten your day by just running to greet you or nuzzling up against you after you have had a tough day. Dogs just do, they don’t expect much (except maybe a few belly rubs) in return.