It's A Dog's Life: Things I Have Learned from My Dog

This month’s edition of National Geographic appeared in my mailbox last week and I was excited by the front page banner “What  Dogs Tell Us” I was a bit disappointed it was about dog DNA and the evolution of breeds, I was hoping it was going to be a devotional to dogs!

We got our puppy nine months ago and she has taught us all a lot; I think society would benefit from acting a bit more like our canine companions!

Here are some Dog Rules For Life:

Always Show Someone how Happy You Are to See Them, Even if They Have Only Been Gone a Short Time. Lucy always greets us with a wagging tail; in fact she gets so enthusiastic her whole body wags. I get this reaction even if I just went upstairs to run laundry. The next time your partner or kids come home from school or work, take the time to greet them with a hug and a smile (wagging your body may be taking it a bit too far!).

Be Curious about Everything. Taking Lucy for a walk is never a quick trip around the neighborhood. She likes to stop and sniff at the most mundane things, even if she sniffed at the same mailbox this morning. While waiting for her to sniff around I have been listening to the birds, enjoying the change in the plants through the seasons.

Naptime Is More Fun When You Snuggle. Lucy is crated when we go to work and at bedtime. She likes her crate and goes in willingly. We made it cozy with a cushion to sleep on and leave toys in there so she does not get bored. When she decides to nap, though, she jumps up on the couch and snuggles up next to whoever is sitting there. There have been times I have snuggled alongside her and taken a nap. She reminds me that sometimes you have to slow down.

Say Hello to Strangers. When I am out with Lucy if she meets another dog, she always wants to say hello. She does not make any snap judgments about how they look, she thinks everyone is a potential friend. This is something I have always found easy, my kids complain that I talk to everyone! But wouldn’t it be nice if we all decided to find out about a person before passing judgment?

Tell Someone If They Are Upsetting You. The flip side of being really friendly is that occasionally someone will offend you/hurt your feelings or just make you mad. If another dog gets in Lucy’s face and she does not like it, she will give a small growl to tell the dog to back off, she does not pretend nothing is bothering her and let hurt feelings fester. The next time you find yourself on the receiving end of hurtful behavior, speak up. You don’t have to be mean or rude, but you can still say something.

Don’t Hold a Grudge. We can reprimand Lucy for stealing a sock, chewing something she should not and she never stays angry with us, she does not pout or stop speaking to us. She forgives and forgets. Even the time she was miserable when we gave her a bath, she was back to wagging her tail as soon as we took her out of the water! I found a great quote about holding a grudge; “It’s like letting someone live rent-free in your head.” Dwelling on something is never going to make you feel happy or help you move on, so don’t.

Play Hard. Whether we are playing the millionth game of fetch or Frisbee, Lucy is just as excited as the first time, she never gets bored. Chasing her in the yard is a daily ritual I love and she taught me something else this weekend.

Over the years I have grown to really dislike snow. My kids no longer want to go sledding or build a snowman so are just a nuisance. This weekend I got to enjoy the snow with Lucy, she had me doubled over with laughter at the sight of her tearing around the yard in excitement.

She was like a child who had just gotten all their birthdays and Christmases rolled into one. Instead of being cold and miserable, I was warm running around after her. It reminded me that no matter how old you get, you are not too old to play.