Life is better with a dog

I was sat at the laptop at the kitchen table and I heard the familiar sound of my dog in full 'love of life' mode. She was on her bed, legs in the air, twisting back and forth, mouth and eyes open and making occasional light grunting sounds; as happy as anyone could want to be. This isn't bad for an old girl. I've had dogs most of my life and have concluded that life is very much better with them in it. It's a double edged sword of course, as you have to train them well and make sure they know you're top dog, pardon the phrase. Many people treat them like a baby and forget that they're pack oriented. They need to look up to you all as higher ranking pack members or will want to dominate you instead. Once that little task is completed, you've got the best buddy you could ever wish for. 

Dogs never lie. You know exactly where you stand with them at all times. They're always happy to see you, eat like it's their last meal and love it and sometimes just want to play, for the fun of it. They are happy with the most simple of things, such as a walk or a belly rub. When we take them out, or when they snuggle up to us, we feel better too. Perhaps there's something to that? And they love to just hang out with you, regardless of your hair, clothes or mood....which can't stay bad for long with them by your side. We lost her biological littermate brother, Hey Go (Black Dog), 3 years ago to cancer. It was devastating and as tough to go through as loosing a human relative. It's shocking how vital they become, and in such a short time. That's something you have to put to the back of your mind though, and just enjoy every moment with them, exactly as they do, for the brief 10-14 years we have them. Everyone calls my dog my "little wife", as she's always by my side and always wants to know where I am (unless there's fresh food in her bowl, then I'm temporarily forgotten). She's 12 and is a large dog, so she's getting up there. For now, I get to see her enjoying herself, having a good sniff, chasing lizards and birds round the garden, greeting people at the door she knows, barking at those she doesn't know yet, and bounding around with her other doggie friends, Brandy, Maddie and Clinton. Life is definitely better with a dog in it. We could learn a lot from them....just not the communal ass sniffing or peeing against lamp posts. Everything else I can accept.