We're all stuck at home for who knows how long and although binge-watching Netflix and surfing social media might be fun, it can definitely get a little boring after a while. People turn to books, magazines, finding other activities to take part in, but the people who have dogs already know that they not only have a built-in best friend, but some pure entertainment sitting right next to them.

Going for walks is fun but going for a walk with a dog, and seeing a walk through their eyes, is now so much better. There's the need of them actually having to go outside that makes you get off your ass a few times a day, sure, but we all now know why dogs get so excited to go for walks. It's amazing how much we took being able to leave our houses for granted before this and we now understand the exhilaration of going outside and getting fresh air.

Dogs are becoming more understood during this weird time and I, for one, am here for it. An added bonus to all of this is the excitement your dog gets when he sees a squirrel hopping along. It's now so much more fun when I see a squirrel because my dog gets so pumped for it that I actually find myself cheering him on. It's entertaining to watch him sniff around and wonder what's on the ground that he's so curious about. And the best part about a walk with the pup, how happy he is by the pure acknowledgment from a stranger. I, too, get happy when someone even says hello while walking past them.

Another way quarantine is helping us understand our pups is their relationship with food. They are always looking for something to eat, which I find myself doing all day every day. I get up and walk to the fridge, sniff around the cabinets for something good to eat, maybe find something to munch on for a minute, but ultimately get super pumped for dinner when real, good food is cooked. Is that not what my dog has been doing for the four years of his life? Incredible.

Playtime is so much more cherished. Whether it be kicking a soccer ball in the backyard, putting a puzzle together, hell even Monopoly (which is usually a hated game in our household), people were very excited to play. No wonder dogs get so excited when they do something other than walk, eat, or sleep. It's incredible what mixing up your day can do for the soul and how even the smallest playtime activity can brighten up your day and make memories for a lifetime.

And then there's sleep. Ah, something my dog continues to do all day every day but I, due to having some responsibilities like a job, cannot. That being said, on weekends when we have the time to nap intermittently throughout the day, it's such a beautiful thing. Want to take a 20-minute nap? Go for it! Want to sleep for 4 more hours? Sure! It's an activity that in the past we would have taken for granted but now is so fulfilling and rewarding.

Lastly, one that I cannot stress enough, the mantra "A tired dog is a good dog" has never been more applicable to both dogs and humans. When you're not doing anything throughout the day you end up staying up all night and your whole schedule gets completely thrown off. In addition, when you're jacked up on energy, you tend to get restless and cranky because everything is all pent up. This will ultimately result in arguments with whoever you're quarantined with an unhappy person, just like they say dogs destroy things when they're bored or haven't been exercised enough. Hello!? This is our lives right now. Need to go for 10 walks a day to get out that energy? Go for it because a tired human is a good human, or something like that.

All in all, quarantine is making us all a little bit more puppy-like and I'm not upset about it. Dogs have great lives and we're all getting the spoils of living like them for a little while. Take it in, be more like your pup, and enjoy it while it lasts.