More Life Lessons from Dogs

A woof, a tail wag, and we love them! Dogs are a big part of our lives because they’re good and true friends, and they don’t argue. Our canine companions enrich our lives greatly, and we can learn so much from them. Here are more lessons I’ve learned from my dogs.

Appreciate your pack. Dogs are social animals and recognize the importance of family, so, instinctively, they live with a pack, in other words, a family. A dog recognizes its place in the pack and the importance of the pack. The pack, or family, provides safety as well as companionship. Each member of the pack plays an important role and is valued.

People should recognize the importance of family. Families help shape who we are. Our families socialize us so we fit in with society. They guide us and teach us about the world and how we can survive. Often you can count on family when friends abandon you in times of trouble. Although it’s not easy to always get along with family members, it’s important to recognize the bond you share, and how that bond is shown through loyalty.

Dogs realize their pack is important, but sometimes we humans forget the importance of our “pack”. We let petty disagreements separate us. We become estranged from the people who we came from and helped shape who we are. Like dogs, we should try to remember why our "pack" is important.

Make a joyful noise and let others know you’re happy. When my dogs are happy they bay and honk, unlike other dogs who woof or bark. The sound of the noise really doesn’t matter; what is important is that our dogs express their joy and make us happy. They want to share their joy with us, and amidst tail wagging and strange dog noises, we share their excitement and joy and this brightens our day.

People sometimes hesitate about sharing good news, happy feelings, or joy because they worry about what others may think. They choose to mask their feelings or react in a subdued fashion unwilling to share their true emotions. Express your emotions and let others share your joy because then you help other focus on the positive, and the world seems a bit brighter. Show spontaneous joy like your dog.

Save bones for another day. Have you ever watch a dog dig, and dig, and dig to pull out an old bone to chew on a lazy afternoon. Dogs are smart because they save something precious so they can enjoy and savor the flavor again.

Some of us could learn a lesson from our canine companions. Instead of over-indulging in food, or some activity, sometimes it's a good to take a break and save a bit for another time. Over-indulgence can lead to many problems, and if you put something away and save it for another day, then you have something to look forward to. Anticipation is half the fun-- look at that dog digging up his bone!

Sprawl in the sun and soak up the warmth. My dogs love to do this. They know where the sun is during certain times of the day, and they seek out that sunny patch-- both of them. They frequently disagree about who gets to sprawl in the sunny spot, but sometimes they come to an understanding and share that special spot.

Like my dogs, I have come to appreciate the sun. Sunshine seems to make people feel better--physically and mentally. When I look at my dogs lounging in the sun, I know they're smart because sunshine just makes you feel happy, and dogs definitely know how to feel happy.

Love unconditionally. This is probably the most important lesson I've learned from my hounds. No matter what, dogs always love you. You can yell at them, you can ignore them, but dogs remain loyal and love you. They're always their to lick your face, share your sadness and your joy. Dogs love you, not matter what. People should try to do the same.

We all can learn from our dogs because they are pretty darn smart.