I was once told that God sent us dogs to give us a glimpse of what unconditional love looks like. I believe dogs are closer to perfection than any human will ever be. Sometimes I wonder why exactly God blessed us with such incredible creatures. I would say we're pretty undeserving of such immense affection. However, here we are. I have been lucky enough to grow up with dogs my whole life. This is something I surely will do when I have children of my own due to all the lessons that they teach us. These are a few of the many reasons I believe God gave us dogs.

1. They teach us patience

Whether it’s picking up after they’ve torn the couch to shreds or putting up with their unjustified howling, humans must push their anger aside to deal with the issue at hand. Calmly, you’re forced to vacuum up the remanence of that poor cushion while your pup looks at you with those sorrowful eyes. But how can you stay mad at such a sweet face? Patience is key when owning a dog.

2. They teach us to love

This is probably the most obvious and crucial one. They show their love from the constant face licks, to the never-ending cuddles. The love that exudes these precious animals should be shown as a prime example of how we should treat others. In the midst of any situation, there is no question that they will always be there to love on you

3. They teach us responsibility

Taking care of yourself is one thing but taking care of another creature is a whole different game. When you’re out with friends and having a blast, sometimes you need to cut the night short to be home with your dog. When everyone is asleep at the crack of dawn, the pup will be urging you for food. When going on vacation, sometimes the trip will need to be planned around when your favorite dog sitter is available. Some say that having a dog is perfect practice for preparing for a child, but it would seem that they’re just as needy.

4. They teach us pure happiness

Have you ever seen when a dog is free to run on an open field? It could easily be mistaken for the best day of their life. You may even worryingly question if that dog has ever seen the light of day. Of course, that’s not the case. That reaction doesn’t change no matter how often he gets to run on that seemingly everlasting piece of property. This teaches us to never let anything keep you from enjoying yourself. No matter who you are with or what situation you’re in, seize that day with happiness.

5. They teach us to be unwarrantedly joyful

The best example when this lesson comes to mind is one every dog owner is all too familiar with: their constant excitement when you come home. Whether you’re gone for an hour or a week, you will always be treated like you’re the most important thing in their lives. They’ll jump for joy at the sight of you or the noise of the key turning. Of course, it would be odd if we did actual spins when we saw our loved ones but they have the right attitude. They teach us to treat people in a joyful manner that doesn’t need more than a smile to bring on

6. They teach us selflessness

Any dog-lover would know that once you fall in love with your fur baby, the fur baby comes before you. Your life begins to revolve around the pup, not because you’re forced to but because you love him. This kind of selflessness can’t just be verbally taught, you have to live it to understand it. This means taking him out when it’s freezing cold, when you’re exhausted or even simply when you’re busy. This even means, like previously mentioned, planning trips to where he will be most comfortable. Having this wonderful creature in your life will teach you to put others before yourself.

7. They teach us loyalty

Loyalty is a word often used for couples in relationships. Loyalty means being there for that person no matter what and staying true to them, through the hard times and the amazing times. I feel like if dogs could talk they would say things like: “You’re sick in bed? I got you. You’re lonely? I got you. You need someone to cuddle with you? I got you.” This is the type of mentality we need to be a truly loyal person, whether it’s to your partner or a friend.

8. They teach us to forgive and forget

When I hear the phrase “forgive and forget”, I have an inclination to tell you to never simply forget. However, dogs show the perfect example of how not to hold a grudge over someone. People make mistakes, that’s a given. How you choose to handle it is what varies. Dogs teach us to love despite imperfections. Although we make mistakes because it’s in our genetic makeup, making mistakes is no excuse to treat someone poorly.

9. They teach us to not judge a book by its cover

Dogs don’t love us for our skin color, for our job description or for our income. Dogs love us because they can easily view our character. They love us just by our actions and our true intentions. How amazing would the world be if we had the same mindset as dogs? It would be one where we don’t judge based on physicality but how we treat others. I truly believe this is one of the most important lessons that dogs teach us.

Longhaired, shorthaired, miniature or massive, dogs come in all shapes and sizes. They’re never lacking in love and always striving to comfort. A part of a reason they’re there is to make us happy and feel fulfilled. But I believe God sent them to us to teach. I try to imagine a world without these incredible companions and it’s near impossible. I imagine a sad world, one where people are lonely and cranky. Thankfully, we never have to imagine. Give your furry friend a massive hug and thank him/her for all that they have taught you.