Life Lessons We Can All Learn by Having a Dog ~ We Care for Dogs

Life Lessons We Can All Learn by Having a Dog

life lessons from dogs

Dogs are wonderful; furry, warm and cuddly, they are our companions that often become our best friends. We are drawn to their personalities, their wagging tails and their friendly dispositions. Through the years of owning a dog, they grow and we grow with them. Often, they teach us valuable lessons as we grow together. Having a dog can really change your perspective. All we need to do is observe them and be mindful of our interactions with them.

Enjoy Every Moment

Sometimes the stresses of life can catch up to us, but dogs remind us to slow down and live in the moment. They don’t constantly worry about their problems. They enjoy whatever the moment brings to the fullest, whether it’s lounging on the kitchen floor in the sunlight or going for a walk on the harness. They could spend their time worrying about the past or the future, but they don’t. This can remind us that sometimes we need to step back from our problems and remember to take a breath. Life is a journey and we should enjoy the ride.

Play

Dogs love to play and run every day. They feel the natural inclination to stretch and work their bodies. Have you ever seen a dog playing in the park, happy to simply run and chase squirrels? They intuitively know that playing and being active is good for them. We probably won’t chase many squirrels when we go to the park, but running and being active is always a healthy and fun activity. Keeping our bodies and minds occupied with an active pastime like exercise can boost mood, productivity and health. Sometimes we need to just put everything down, put the dog harness on our furry friend, and take them for a walk. Not only is it a bonding experience, but both of you will be happier and healthier for it.

Forgive

Sometimes your dog gets into trouble and you have to discipline him, or maybe he is begging for a treat that he won’t get until later. Does he ever hold a grudge against you? Even when you punish him or don’t give him a treat, he’s not angry because he knows that you still love him. Sometimes we get caught up in anger or sadness if a friend does something to offend us. Stepping back and looking at the big picture can remind us that our friendships are more important than anger, and we should just forgive our friends. We should remember that our relationships with those around us are important, and things or arguments should never take precedence over our friendships.

Be Loyal

Your dog is loyal to you and will stay by your side no matter what. Dogs are pack animals and they think of their human family as their pack mates. He will be loyal to and defend his pack no matter what. Their loyalty is a big part of why dogs are called man’s best friend. This can remind us that we need to invest time into our human relationships and be loyal to our friends. Any relationship takes commitment. If someone is important to you, show them.

Don’t Stress Over the Little Things

As all dog parents know, taking care of your furry family member comes with a whole set of small grievances and annoyances. Maybe your pup made a mess of the trash, or maybe he chewed up your best pair of shoes. No matter what your dog gets into, it’s guaranteed to happen again. However, at the end of the day, you still love your dog no matter what he did. Those silly annoyances pale in comparison to the joys of having a furry friend. We can apply this logic to our everyday lives. Maybe you made a mistake; regardless, accept that it happened and move on. Small mistakes do not signify the end of the world.

Have Patience

Owning a pet involves mundane tasks like cleaning up after him, walking him and feeding him. A lot of these responsibilities must be done regularly, and though we might not always want to attend to a certain task at a certain time, we must do it when we have a pet. It takes patience to set aside time on a regular basis to take care of your dog, especially when you would rather be doing something a little more fun. However, it is something you must do. Ultimately, it’s all worth it and you get the rewards of a happy dog and a strong bond with him.

Greet the Day With Enthusiasm

Mornings can be a drag. When you just don’t want to pull yourself out of bed, take inspiration from your dog. He's always primed and ready for the day to begin. Every morning is a new day to play, work and live. Embrace each day with enthusiasm and acceptance. Making the choice to be happy in the mornings can set the tone for your whole day. Take the preemptive step of making a conscious decision to have a positive day. Something as simple as waking up and making the choice to be happy can benefit your whole life.

Be Yourself

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is that they are happy as they are. A dog never looks at another dog and envies them. They simply accept themselves and their capabilities. From Dachshunds to Great Danes, we love our dogs and we love their uniqueness. We think their quirks, personalities, and differences are cute and something to be celebrated. Likewise, we should accept ourselves and our uniqueness, because it makes each one of us special.

We love our dogs and they love us back, unconditionally. Their charming and charismatic personalities always find a way to make us happy. There is much that we can learn from our furry best friends. Dogs can always brighten your day with their optimistic, playful and faithful personalities. Let’s take a lesson from them and try to brighten the lives of those around us and ourselves.

This article is submitted by Emily Conklin, an author for Gladwire.com. When she’s not writing, she enjoys skiing, traveling and playing with her bunny. Recently she wrote a helpful article about the best dog harnesses guide for 2018.

0 comments:

Post a Comment