Whoever said that dogs are a man's best friend was one smart cookie. Dogs are loyal, loving and so intelligent. I feel like everyday my pup teaches me something new.

OK, so a little background on my own dog, Jake. I got him, my very first dog, on May 30 of this year (MY BIRTHDAY!). He is a Maltese/Poodle/Yorkie mix. In other words, he is the cutest dog I've ever seen (see picture below). He is only three-months-old, and I feel as if I have a three month old baby instead of a puppy. Puppies are a lot of responsibility. Before we go anywhere, I have to pack a bag with at least three chew toys, food and water, bowls, treats, two leashes and a few other random things. So basically, I have to pack a diaper bag for my dog. And did you know that puppies have to be let out at least every two hours? Plus dog food prices are no joke.

Yet for the amount of work that they take to raise, owning a dog can teach you several important lessons.

Here is what I have learned so far from raising Jake:

1. Don't be afraid to sniff someone's butt.

And I do not mean this in a literal sense. I repeat, DO NOT GO SNIFFING PEOPLE'S BUTTS. What I mean is that it is okay to get up in someone else's personal business. Nothing is off limits when you are trying to get to know someone you're going to make a part of your life. Dogs are smart. They get to know another dog from head to toe before they are sure that they are safe to play with. Maybe we should start doing that too. It would surely save us a lot of heart break.

2. It is okay to try again.

I cannot count the number of times that Jake has fallen down the stairs, yet everyday he gives them another try. And I cannot count the number of times that I have fallen down a set of metaphorical stairs and just given up. But Jake keeps trying and at the top of the stairs I give him a treat. On the other hand, I keep giving up and I never get to taste the treat. It may be painful to slip and fall down a flight of stairs, but the pain does not match the satisfaction of getting to the top. So give it another try, whatever it is you're trying to do, and maybe you'll find yourself with a nice treat too.

3. Stop and smell the roses.

And the mulch, and the grass, and the candy wrapper someone left on the ground, and the poop of another dog and basically anything that might have a scent. It may take us an hour to walk a mile, but it is nice to slow down and breath. Each (obnoxiously) long walk we take together reminds me that sometimes we need to just stop. Stop and find something you're thankful for. Jake is thankful for the bumblebees in my front yard and everyday he shows them by chasing them around for at least half an hour. When was the last time you stopped to appreciate what life has put around you?

4. Don't take anyone for granted.

No matter if you have been gone for a whole day or just a few minutes, Jake greets everyone with the same amount of barking and butt wiggles. Often we forget to appreciate the people in our lives. When is the last time you did something special for your parents? What was the last thing you did to make your best friend smile? Whether you see them everyday or only once in a while, everyone deserves a butt wiggle or two in order to feel needed and loved. (I LOVE YOU MOM). Most importantly, you never know what your last chance to show someone you love them will be, so do it everyday if you can.

5. Learn from the past.

The first time I took Jake to the vet he was so well behaved (and so naive). The second time I took him, his poor little body shook with fear. He knew that this time would be just like the first time and he was going to have to get a needle. Poor guy felt so violated. Sure second chances are great, but there comes a time when we must acknowledge the patterns we have seen in our past. Whether it is learning from a heart break or learning from a vet visit. Our experiences teach us everything we need to know in order to be prepared for what the future holds.