I love dogs!
This is not something that is unique to me – many people love dogs. I’m starting this blog to journal what I learn from dogs – my dogs, your dogs, anyone’s dogs. I see some deeply spiritual sense that surrounds dogs. I also see some devilish things about dogs, but in a spiritual way.
Dogs Are Scavengers
Looking at their forebears, dogs are scavengers. Of course, your own dog shows you these traits every time he pokes his nose in the trash. She could come after you when you have a snack in your hand and look at you with those irresistible goo-goo eyes that just melt your heart.
And the morsel is theirs!
Dogs are perfect scavengers because they will eat anything if it looks good or if you are eating it. They will eat these things even if it is not good for them because they see you eating it and they want to share it with you. This is why you need to be particularly careful when you are eating anything with chocolate or xylitol.
Dogs Are Our Co-Workers
Once our ancestors became comfortable with dogs around their camp as scavengers, our ancestors developed a relationship where dogs would help them with the hunting. The dogs could flush our small game and birds helping our ancestors feed everyone. The better the hunting, the better the scavenging for the dogs. A win-win for everyone.
Dogs have been bred to bring out different traits that make them efficient and effective workers for us. The shepherd rounds up the sheep and keeps them safe from predators. The husky is built to carry loads over long icy trails with a double coat that keeps him warm during the coldest days and nights. The hounds were designed to have the keenest sense of smell so that they could find game or missing people with only the slightest trace of scent. Even the small chihuahuas were designed to chase rodents into their underground dens and take them out.
There is one thing in common through all of these dogs – large and small, furry or not, sharp of smell and eyesight or not – is the overriding desire to please us – their human companions.
Have you ever observed your dog doing whatever they think will please us. This is why teaching a dog to do tricks works so well. The dog is working for the treat, but also working to please us. If you don’t believe this, try teaching your cat some of the same tricks. I know that chihuahuas don’t do obedience very well, but they are awesome compared to a cat!
Dogs Are Our Companions
Beyond the major sense of companionship, sitting near us or on our laps (my preferred posture), dogs are our companions. Today, more than ever before, dogs are melding companionship with work as they work as service animals to help people with PTSD, blindness, deafness, and mobility issues. Even more amazing are those animals who can harness their abilities to detect when an epileptic seizure is coming, or to find the smallest trace of cancer often before conventional means could detect it!
Dogs are simply amazing!!
Dogs are used in stressful places to help the humans calm themselves down. Places like hospitals and schools. It’s been quite common to see dogs trotting around college campuses during finals week to help harried students cope. I’ve also seen service dogs walking around my local airport. I guess not everyone is comfortable flying, or waiting in airports. Maybe I’m odd, but it doesn’t bother me at all. Still, I enjoy interacting with the service dogs.
Dogs Bring Out Our Best Selves
Unless you have a sociopathic monster, everyone loves dogs. They are part of the rehabilitation of many prisoners as the prisoners complete the early training of many dogs as part of their rehabilitation process – a two-for-one winning deal if you ask me! I had a co-worker who was a Marine Corps veteran (ooh-rah!) who needed a service animal. His dog’s training was completed in a prison. This dog became the unofficial mascot of the entire office. I always kept treats available for him as did several others. We were careful to ensure these were approved in advance by our Marine. I would also ask what particular trait needed training assistance. The service dog (and no, I’m not naming him on purpose) would be weighed in quarterly and tested annually to ensure that our Marine was keeping up with his requirements for keeping the dog. If he didn’t, the dog could be taken away from him! No one wanted this to happen so we allowed our treats to be approved, and I ensured that the dog had to work for his reward. Win-Win.
Conclusion
Man’s best friend? You betcha! There is no more loyal friend, companion, confidante than your dog. Just looking into those doggy eyes will assure you that you are loved unconditionally. That is why God made dogs. To give you a reminder that you are God’s creature also and that you are loved unconditionally.
