Someone once said to me, “I don’t understand why you make such a big deal about it, it’s just a dog.” After my knee jerk reaction of outrage after referring to my beloved Bailey boy as an “it,” I stumbled to find the right words to explain all the endless reasons why he is not “just a dog.” Any responsible, caring dog owner can empathize with how I felt in that moment. I honestly never forgot that statement because it cut into me and severed an emotional chord that got me thinking, “How dare they degrade my relationship with my baby, my best friend, who has changed my life for the better in so many ways?”

Sometimes people who never had dogs growing up, or even some who did, just don't seem to understand what it means and feels like to share a bond with a dog. I also must say that caring for and having the complete responsibility for your own dog is different from the responsibilities of the family dog you had as a kid, as I'm sure some of you can relate to. I do not mean that offensively to anyone. What I mean is that as a kid, the family dog is a shared responsibility, loved by all. When you’re a teenager and you want to go out with friends, you don’t worry about leaving him or her alone. You just go. There always seems to be someone older who will pay for vet visits and dog food, buy toys and find a pet sitter for family vacations. The decisions are in someone else's hands and you just get to enjoy being a kid with your dog.

But something happens when you become the sole responsibility to an incredible dog that changes your life. My dog Bailey is five years old. I’ve been blessed to be his mom since he was eight weeks old. Bailey is a blue merle Australian Shepherd and anyone who knows me probably knows all about Bailey. He’s the light of my life. Bailey has taught me so much about myself, responsibility and how to navigate difficult situations. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the dog breed, Aussies need a shit ton of exercise, both physically and mentally. Aussies are herding dogs who are used on farms to herd cattle and sheep, particularly out west. They say Aussies need a “job” to do to be happy. So for all of us Aussie owners without a flock of sheep, this means getting creative. In fact, Aussies are often abandoned because people largely underestimate the amount of work it is to care for an Aussie; they just think they’re so “pretty.” I must say if you’re that type of dog owner, I dislike you. You should never adopt a dog into your life because they are “pretty” and you think they will just take care of themselves. If you aren’t willing to put in the work, get a cat.

Just to put it into perspective, when the weather is cool enough, Bailey bike rides approximately six miles everyday we can, and that’s not his entire workout. I do agility work with him, regular walks (which is more for sniffing; walks aren’t exercise for an Aussie) and, of course his favorite, running around a field chasing his tennis ball. All this exercise over the years has made me healthier, stronger and has created a deeper bond between my baby and I. We go swimming in the summer, play in the snow in the winter, and cycle and hike all year round. He does his puzzles while I study in graduate school. He loves to learn new tricks, bring me my slippers and puts his toys away.

Aussies are “shadow dogs” because they develop a fierce bond with their owner that is unbreakable. Wherever I go, my little shadow is right beside me, even in the bathroom. If I ran up and down the stairs all day long, he’d be quickly on my heels. Bailey is also the most loyal living creature I have ever known. There have been bad days when I’m crying and I don’t want to get out of bed, and Bailey curls around my head and licks my tears until I start laughing. That’s what he always does. He won’t stop until I’m smiling. I wish I could thank him for that.

Bailey challenges me to be a better person. He gives me strength and unconditional love when I feel unlovable. He reminds me to appreciate each day, to love and enjoy the little things, and to spend as much time with him as I can while he’s still here next to me. He holds me accountable to be a responsible dog mom, no matter what’s going on in my life. He let’s me squish and kiss him while I sing my little songs I make up about him even though my voice is terrible. He takes care of me and I take care of him. No matter how long I leave the house for, be it five minutes or five hours, his wiggle butt is moving a mile a minute when I walk through the door.

There is something incredible about dogs. They have this amazing gift to live in the moment, always. They find joy in the simplest of things: going for a walk, snuggling up to cuddle, meeting new friends, playing with the same ball forever and smelling the grass. Dogs stare at us with their loving eyes as if to say, “I’m here, I’m always here.” They aren’t “just dogs." They are teachers who show us what truly matters in life. Keep teaching us.