Five Ways My Dog Has Made Me a Better Person

I’m a dog person, hands down.   I’ve only had two in my lifetime, and both of them have made me a better person.  Here are five ways my dogs have made me a better person.

1. Responsibility- Our first dog, Cocoa, was brought into our family when I was ten years old.  I had just done a project in the fourth grade on dog training and was trying to show my parents that I was ready and responsible enough to take care of a dog.  After what felt like years of nagging, we drove out of the city and picked up Cocoa.  We got her at a puppy mill- I was too young to realize what kind of a place it was, but my parent’s tell me they were happy to get a sweet puppy out of that mess.  My brother and I shared the responsibilities of walking her, cleaning up her poop, and training her.  My parents helped a lot (of course) but learning to take care of a puppy alone taught me to commit and be responsible for more than just myself.

2. Grounded me- About four years ago, my husband and I found Zelda.  She was dropped off at our house in February right before Valentine’s day.  We fell in love with her immediately and spent the entire rest of the winter at home with our new puppy.  At first, she more of less physically kept us grounded at home, but as she’s grown, I’ve found myself more centered because I always have her sweet smile to come back to.

3.  Made me more active- even in the winter-  Since having Zelda, I have become more active outside, even when it’s really cold.  Everyday, I have to walk her, even when I’m tired or don’t feel like it.  After about five minutes in the fresh air, I can’t help but find gratitude for all the outdoor activities she has inspired.

4.  Reminds me to be happy and present- The one thing I love about dogs is that they are always present in the moment.  When I get down or sad, just watching Zelda enjoy something as simple as sitting in the grass reminds me of how lucky I am to be alive.

5.  Brough my husband and I closer together- Zelda has been a rock in our relationship.  Every time my husband and I fight, Zelda will run and hide until the intensity is over.  She then reemerges and will give us both kisses and love which we think is her way of saying I still love you and we are a family.  I’m so glad she does this because it does help me realize that we are a family and are going to stick together though the hard times.

Are you a dog person too?  Even if you like cats- I think animals have so much wisdom to share with us.  I love meeting other people’s furry families and would love to connect at the dog park sometime this winter!  Reach out to me if you want to set up a doggy date 🙂