Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.

-Milan Kundera

Living with dogs. If you ask any dog owner what those three words mean to them, you would be able to write a short novel. The first thought that comes to my mind is the deep emotional relationship that starts from day one. They are unpredictable, they make you laugh, they make you cry. When you find yourself without a dog your life becomes a quiet, empty room. There are not many things on this planet that are stronger than a relationship between a man and his dog.

Just listen to a dog owner describe their feelings towards a new puppy and you may think they are talking about a child. So adorable, cute, full of energy, pretty eyes to name a few.  No matter how we arrived here, there is one thing that is certain, we are constantly learning about one another. Sometimes I sit and think if I need my dogs MORE than they need me. They have taught me to be more patient and understanding with simple moments of unconditional love each day. Dogs can help mend the saddest of hearts or make a celebration better. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and trust us without question, while asking little in return. 

When I wake each day I try not to disturb my dogs as they are sleeping but as soon as my foot hits the bottom stair I hear the rattle of paws thundering down to find me. In a way I’m happy they joined me even if they quickly run off onto a chair to continue dreaming. If you own a dog then you know how they constantly monitor each of our movements as if it is their job!

I’m never really certain what my dog is thinking about but I am positive that it’s not too complicated. They don’t have time for clutter or deadlines but they do understand what living in the moment means. We could all learn a little about living in the now and would be better off in our own daily lives because of it. If your dog could speak they might tell you to set your cell phone down for an hour and see what you’ve been missing. 

Similar to humans, our dogs need their own set of rules to live by. As pet owners we are responsible to set boundaries that protect both them and keep our home lives simpler. Some basic training both physical and mental, a healthy diet and lots of exercise and you’ll find this is a recipe for success. It’s important to give your dog more than the table scraps of your time and attention. Including them in things that your family shares each day is really not difficult with some planning. They want to feel safe and secure just as humans do, so know that a little praise and acknowledgement goes a long long way. 

Our dogs are only with us for a short time. That is the one thing that I would change if I were in charge. They fill our lives with so much joy and when they are gone our hearts are broken. I’m not sure I could fully repay the lessons that I’ve learned while living with dogs my entire life. I can only hope to continue learning from them and to keep being a better dog parent.