They may be cute and fluffy, but there’s more value to having a dog than simple companionship. Dogs have life lessons to teach our children, and things to remind us adults of too.
- Stop what you are doing and get excited when the doorbell rings. Even if it is only a door to door salesman, seeing someone new every day can enrich your life. Your smile can certainly enrich theirs. Greet your loved ones as if you have not seen them in years, even if they only left to take the garbage out.
- Take naps. Getting a little extra rest when you have a free moment does a body good. Sleeping in the sunlight streaming through the window is even better.
- Show your love openly. Dogs lick, talk, snuggle and sit on top of us. When they love, they do so with their entire bodies. They never hold back or play hard to get.
- Forgive easily. Tails get stepped on. Doors get closed in their faces. Dogs may cry at the moment of impact, but they never hold a grudge. Within five minutes they are back and have already forgiven you. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if people got over things just as quickly?
- Minimise your moods. Dogs are rarely grumpy. In fact, most dogs have two settings: ‘happy to be alive’ and ‘sleep.’ Teenagers, in particular, could learn from this.
- Don’t be a picky eater. Dogs always find chicken bones all along their walking route. It is not recommended that kids do the same, by any means, but dogs are always curious about new food. If you are eating it, they want a taste. That is exactly what we want from our children. Sniff it, taste it and maybe you will love it.
- Wherever you are, that’s the best place EVER. The car? Cool. The beach? Terrific. The kitchen floor? Love it. It is enthusiasm to the max.
- The reproductive cycle. Forget the stork. Let children observe one heat-pregnancy-birth cycle and that will answer just about any question they have ever had about where babies come from.
- Commitment. Dogs are yours for a lifetime. Like having kids, it is a 24/7/365 job. Walking, feeding, loving and caring must take place every day. Children can learn what it is like to have someone completely reliant on them and the commitment and responsibility it requires.
Dogs are a lot of work. They can make giant messes, are expensive to board when you are away and can rack up heavy veterinary bills. They require love, exercise, food, and more love. But as life-lesson teachers, little else can compare to the value they bring and the positive influence they have on our lives. Woof!
With thanks to Heather Long Vandevoorde, Ph.D.