Anybody who has had the fortune of receiving a dog's love knows that nothing compares. I myself am an admitted crazy dog lady who loves my dog to what is likely an unhealthy level. Dogs are amazing for so many reasons, making them better than any boyfriend or girlfriend we could hope for.
1. It's love at first sight.
As any college student in a small college town can tell you, a great, unparalleled joy rushes over you when you get to see a dog. You can be coming off an all-nighter studying, in the middle of a day full of your hardest classes with work and another paper to write that night, and the moment you see a dog, everything is okay. Their big dopey eyes, tongues bouncing in a happy pant, tails that wag and control their whole body no matter how big or small the dog is will get you warm on the inside. If that's not love at first sight I don't know what is.
2. They are always there for you.
While sometimes people suck at reading each other, which leads to problems in relationships, dogs never seem to get it wrong. If you are crying, your dog comes up and nuzzles its head into your lap. If you're just lying there, going through a rough time, your dog finds ways to make you laugh. Your dog is never going to say the wrong thing and make everything worse, or get annoyed with you for being emotional. Your dog is just there for you, no strings attached.
3. They make you laugh.
Dogs get scared of their farts, get unfathomably excited over their toys, and can be entertained for hours by games of where's the ball or a helium balloon tied to their collar (I have done this with my dog and highly recommend trying it out). Something about their innocence and excitement that comes from simple things is just plain funny.
4. They are great with kids.
They deal with toddlers crawling all over them, grabbing at their ears and tails without a care in the world. They put up with being dressed up in princess dresses with little complaint. They can not only keep up with the seemingly untamable energy of young children, but they do so with joy. When a kid is afraid, dogs are there to protect them.
5. They always forgive you.
Being a college student going to school hours from home, I only get to see my dog a couple times a year. While it breaks my heart (I'm not too ashamed to admit I have cried over missing my dog), when I come home, she is just as happy as ever to see me. She's not mad at me for leaving, it doesn't seem to matter that I didn't text or call. Sometimes we yell at our dogs for doing innocent things, sometimes we ignore them when they desperately want to play or go on a walk. We might not always treat them as they deserve, but that doesn't matter, they love us just the same.
6. They are just as crazy about you as you are about them.
I've got pictures of my dog all over my room, most of the pictures on my phone are of her and I have two blankets with her picture on them. I have about fifteen pet names for her and when I am home, I follow her from room to room just to spend time with her. With anybody else, this would be just a bit extreme, but so long as she's getting fed, played with, and cuddled, my obsession with her doesn't matter. When we go crazy about our dogs, not only does it not bother them, they love it. It just means more cuddles, food, and playtime for them.
