I will be the first to admit that I am not a big dog (or cat
for that matter) person. I am not anti-dog, just have never invested the time,
money and energy into raising one. However, I know plenty of people who adore
their four-legged furry friends. They are considered part of the family. And I
take no issue with that. In fact with the more modern view of canine co-habitation
some of the traditional expressions seem dog-gone mean. "Sick As A Dog"…"Going
To The Dogs"…"He’s A Dog". And while that last one in particular is meant to be
an insult, I would like to suggest we evaluate exactly what it would mean if "He" or "She", behaved more like a DOG.
I believe we might all have better relationships if we took our cues
from the canine variety.
Let’s Take A Look
They Are Extremely
Loyal – This marks the highest and most valuable trait. Dogs are with you no matter what. Bad hair days
all the way to bad everything days. The
good ones too. They are unshakeable. Right by your side. Unconditional love.
Whether you want to take a run in the park or have to curl up on the couch with
the flu, they are faithfully right there. Is that the way you behave towards your
significant other? Do they know how important they are. That you are there for the
long haul. They should. Loyalty is the one quality you cannot fake or buy. You
either have it, or you don’t.
They Are Always Happy
To See You Come Home – When the key turns in the lock, they perk up.
Sometimes you have been gone all day at work. Or it is just a night out with
friends. But when you return home, they greet you with a wet kiss and great
excitement. When your love walks in, do you take the time to show your delight?
To know they have been missed with great expectancy for their return is excellent
insurance to secure that return. (Read that sentence again and let it soak in.)
We tend to want to be where we are most
appreciated and welcomed.
They Make The Best
Cuddle Partners – Whether on the above mentioned flu couch or just all
settled in for movie night, your faithful pooch loves nothing more than to
scoot in as close as they can to you. When was the last time there was no
discernible daylight between you and your partner? Cozy up soon. Even try a little
petting. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
They Will Run Ahead To
Blaze The Path And Stand Between You And Danger – I love that no matter how
small the dog or fierce the adversary, your pup will not back down. My heart
breaks to read stories of faithful dogs that have paid the ultimate price to
save or stay with their owner in peril. Ladies, that is exactly how your man
should treat you. Would he run into the fire for you? Stare down a villain? Of
course, I pray you never need to find out, but sometimes the little things are
important too. Make sure you choose the one who will always have your back. There
is a reason they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. And while I am not
sure that is true, I will use that phrase to share this. You are not going to change
your partner. If they are not good to you now, they never will be.
Dogs have other characteristics too. They are very smart.
They can be taught to fetch and roll over. (I’ll let you decide when those
actions might be appropriate.) They are very playful. And one of my favorites…non-judgemental.
They don’t care if you drink the milk straight out of the carton. And they won’t
rat you out if you wear the same socks or pjs two nights in a row. (Not that I’m
admitting to either….)
Now we do have to put up with some less than stellar
attributes as well.
Some shed. So know that wayward hairs can show up in unusual
places.
They will watch you eat and beg for food.
On occasion they may sniff around and/or mark their territory.
That’s all good. It just means all functions are a go. Being territorial is not
always a bad thing. It is comforting to feel insulated and guarded. They say
every dog will have his day. So let him have his.
And let’s not forget the treats…. Rewards work well. And I
do not mean that in a degrading way. Positive affirmation and special goodies
forge a lasting bond. You are barking up the wrong tree if you think you can
withhold love and affection to use as incentives. That will only backfire on
you. Your favorite pooch will always return home when let out to run, but if
you starve them, they may rustle through the neighbor’s yard. Keep them well
fed at home.
Ok, enough of the double entendres and silly comparisons. I
think I have made my point. As humans we all crave love and attention and
affection. I guess, the animals do too. Probably why they are such a good fit
for us. The bottom line is this..…treat
your love like you want to be treated. Some would even say treat your love as
good as you treat your dogs!
I will now just let this sleepy dog lie.
Hope Out!
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