Dogs are a man's best friend. The majority of people on this planet love dogs, and for good reasons. Puppies are sweet, loyal, and entertaining. Once a dog loves somebody they never forget them, and will always be loyal to them. They're good companions for just about anyone. One of the wonderful things about having a dog as a companion is the many ways they can lessen stress.

1. They make you feel missed.

You could leave for half an hour or you could leave for half a year. Either way, dogs have a special way of making you feel missed. Their excitement is evident. They run, jump, and wag their tail in sheer joy and utter excitement. There is nothing more pure than the love of a dog, and when they miss you they make that love evident. Dogs can miss their owners even after a short duration of time. My dog used to get just as excited about seeing me again after I came back out from the bathroom, as he does now when I come home from college. To dogs, any amount of time without you is too much time. That's why they're the best at making people feel missed.

2. They make you feel appreciated.

On top of making you feel missed, dogs also make their owners feel appreciated. That appreciation can be related to food, tummy rubs, play time, or a plethora of other things. No matter what, puppies always make sure to let their owners know they appreciate the love. They gives cuddles and tail wags to show this. Their excitement and love makes even the saddest person feel valued.

3. They give cuddles when you're tired, sad, or stressed.

Nothing can compare to puppy cuddles. Puppy cuddles are probably one of the sweetest things in life. When you're tired but can't get comfortable, grab your puppy and curl up with him. Dogs always appreciate the attention. Puppies are like cute pillows that want to love everybody, so take full advantage of having your own little ray of sunshine. Speaking of little rays of sunshine; if you're moody and gloomy, a puppy's sunny disposition will certainly lighten your day. To me, cuddling with my puppy while reading a book or watching Netflix is the best stress reliever on the planet.

4. Playtime is full of laughs.

As we all know, puppies look adorable in any state of being. Most of us can agree that puppy play is one of the cutest states a puppy can be in. Not only are they engaged and excited, but they're also in extremely silly moods. Dogs do goofy stuff all the time when they're engaged in play. They'll tumble when running or make hilarious faces when excited. My puppies look like they're genuinely smiling when engaged in play time. Puppy play time is just as fun for the owners as it is for the pets. It's a great way to relieve stress. Seeing a puppy tumbling around or wagging his tail will automatically bring a smile to almost anyone's face.

5. Puppy kisses.

Dogs give kisses for just about anything. They'll give kisses because they're happy, excited, appreciative, or because they missed their owner dearly. Affection is something puppies are great at and kisses are one of their prime ways of showing it. Dogs will also give licks if their human is sick or hurt. Nothing soothes pain like puppy kisses and cuddles when one is sick or hurting.

This is a dedication to my dogs who've passed away.

K.J. King James

Clifford

And the animals who brought that love back into our home.

Gizmo

Duke

Nirvana