Dogs are not really property you can own; they're more like family members. Honestly, I'm torn between calling Oreo and Isabella (my family's Shih Tzu and Maltipoo) my brother and sister, or my babies. They're kind of both.
Dogs are family members. Every dog has a personality of their own. Our Oreo, for instance, is a calm, loving, and friendly 15-year-old Shih Tzu. Our Isabella, however, is a stubborn, spoiled, and selfish seven-year-old Maltipoo (half maltese, half poodle).
I swear that my dogs think they're humans. They prefer laying in beds and on couches over sitting on the floor. When Oreo wants some water, he'll make his way to either me or my parents and look up at us with those big eyes of his, and just by doing so he is telling us what he wants.
Dogs are much smarter than the world makes them out to be. Whenever I walk into the kitchen and open the pantry door to get some food or treats for myself, both of our family's dogs appear at my feet to look in the pantry too. They know that's where their treats are. And when your dogs want a treat, you can't help but give them one. They're just too cute. They're so cute and loving and perfect that you want to give them everything in the world that they could ever desire.
And when you love your dogs, you want to capture every moment of cuteness (so basically, every moment ever). I take pictures and videos of Oreo and Isabella everyday, and I know I'm not the only one who does this. Oreo loves walks, so when we went on a walk around the local park a few weeks ago, I took 100 pictures (no exaggeration) of him and his smile. Isabella loves to be lazy, like me, so I have at least 15 pictures on my camera roll of her in my bed, on the couch, or on the floor.
When I was in high school, someone told me that dogs can't understand us when we speak to them. That couldn't be further from the truth. Dogs can read your body language, for starters. They can also pick up on what you're saying. If I say, "couch," to my family's Maltipoo, she runs to my spot on the couch -- or should I say, our spot (considering she lays there with me). When I get Oreo ready to go out to the backyard to do his business, all I have to say to Isabella is, "Wanna go out?" and she knows to run to the glass door to accompany Oreo outside.
People say that dogs are a man's best friend, but that does not even come close to describing the mutual love and fondness of the relationship between dogs and humans. When I'm dorming at school, I think of my dogs every single day. When I'm visiting someone else's house, all I can think about is getting home and seeing my dogs faces.
When you love a dog, you love him or her dog with your entire heart. There is no better feeling than laying in bed and hearing your dog scratch on your door, wanting to join you and spend time with you. Or when you're on the couch and all of a sudden, your dog jumps up to the couch to lay next to you (who am I kidding -- to lay on top of you).
There is only one downside to having dogs in your family: they don't live forever. My Oreo has been in my life since I was about four or five years old. Sure, I may not have loved him at first (I told my parents to take him right back to where they got him from because I was scared of him), and I may have had some years when I didn't treat him with all the love I should have, but I cannot imagine my life without him. I love him so much and I never want to let him go. I'm dreading the day I have to say goodbye to that stinky, adorable little guy. He's one of my best friends.
Having a dog in your family is more than having a best friend. Having dogs in your home means there will always be love, laughs, and smiles. Dogs are loyal, loving, mischievous, spoiled, and funny. They're companions you will never, ever forget once you create a bond. Bring a dog into your home, and you'll be bringing a new son, daughter, brother or sister into your world.
