Learn From Dogs

I love dogs! I have had many, many cats throughout the years, but dogs are the best. Cats live with you out of pity for you. They do not need you; you need them. Cats are able to survive just fine on their own in any environment. They live with humans because it suits their purpose, they can just lie around and have humans serve them by taking care of all their needs.

Dogs are entirely different. Dogs must live with people because they take care of them; even the best of the hunter dogs cannot survive on their own in an urban environment. However, dogs earn their keep. They are ready and willing to work for you, protect you, and even die for you in return for you just letting them hang around

Dogs have many attributes that humans should emulate. Cesar Millan, the author of A Member of the Family and star of the National Geographic Channel’s television show Dog Whisperer, points out some of these attributes in his article What Your Pet Can Teach You, Parade magazine, January 11, 2009.

• Live in the moment. Dogs live in the moment. They do not regret the past or worry about the future. If we could learn to appreciate and focus on what is happening in the present, rather than what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future, we would live much fuller lives.

• Nurture a balanced life. Dogs need the basics: food, water, and shelter. However, for them to live happy lives, they also need exercise, discipline, and affection every day. If our daily routines include physical activity, a sense of structure, and the opportunity to give and receive love, then we would live fuller and more balanced lives.

• Trust your instincts. Dogs do not understand words. They hear the sounds and instinctively relate them to what they perceive is happening by listening to the speaker’s tone and inflection of the words, the watching the speaker’s body movements and behavior, and sensing the emotions being exhibited by the speaker. Many of us have lost touch with this all-important instinctual part of our natures. By paying attention to nonverbal cues such as body language and energy, we can learn more about our friends, our loved ones, and ourselves.

• Be direct and consistent in your communication. If dog owners are not direct and consistent in their interactions with their dogs, the dogs are left confused about what is and is not acceptable behavior. Great relationships, no matter the species, begin with clear and consistent communication. We teach people how to treat us.

• Learn to listen. Dogs do not talk; they listen. This makes their relationship with humans much smoother. We should listen to others a caring way, and not fixate on their weaknesses.

• Do not hold grudges. There is little conflict in dog packs because the pack members immediately resolve disagreements when they arise, and then move on. We should do the same; we should deal with a problem, and then forget it and move on, instead of letting little minor disagreements grow into major conflicts, or harboring ill feelings so that they undermine any future happiness.

• Live with purpose. When dogs are bored, they develop issues ranging from anxiety to aggression. However, when given a job and a way to contribute to the pack’s well-being, they turn around almost immediately. All animals—including humans—have an inborn need to work for food and water. Ask yourself how you can contribute more to your job, your family, and the world around you. You will feel much better about yourself if you earn your keep.

• Celebrate every day. For a dog, every morning is a new day. Every walk is the best walk, every meal is the best meal, and every game is the best game. They do not dwell on the days before, they just rejoice at the day at hand. We need to take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of our lives

Under good conditions, dogs live great lives. However, their trust in humans may also be their downfall. Some people take advantage of this trust and mistreat them; it gives some people a sense of having power over something in their own miserable lives. A dog may be mistreated every day, but it will stay with its family because that is what a dog does; it is loyal to a fault.

While there are many attributes of dogs that we should try to emulate, we should remember to be wary of our keepers. Not all of them have our best interests at heart. Unlike, dogs, when mistreated, instead of just taking it, we should take action to end the mistreatment.

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