I grew up without a dog, so with my mom's approval, anytime I saw a dog I would ask the owner if I could pet their dog. I used to think it would only be kids that didn't have dogs that would do that, but about half the kids that ask if they could pet Dizzy, have a dog(s) at home (Dizzy is our eight year old Shiba Inu).
With a few exceptions, we mold our dogs, they become what we make them. If we abuse them, they may become aggressive. If we're nice, loving and caring, that is what they'll become. I cry almost every time I watch anything that talks about or shows a dog that has been neglected and/or abused. What did these dogs do to deserve that? Chances are these dogs didn't have a mean bone in their body. That is not right. Anyone that abuses an animal deserves severe punishment and they should definitely NEVER have children, that right should be taken away from them.
Here are some quotes that ring true for me:
"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -Roger Caras
"Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished" -Dean Koontz
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person" -Andrew A. Rooney
"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." -Agnes Sligh
"The more I know about people, the better I like my dog" -Mark Twain
"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." -Gilda Radner
In addition to their general awesomeness, dogs are also good for our health. According to an article from www.webmd.com "(b)abies in homes with dogs have fewer colds, fewer ear infections, and need fewer antibiotics in their first year of life than babies raised in pet-free homes...." The article continues with some theories as to why. One of them being dogs may expose babies to just the right amount of additional germs to strengthen their immune systems. While I certainly don't need more reasons to have a dog when I have a baby, the science is very interesting.
As we get older, dogs continue to contribute to our health in a variety of ways. They help us stay active, can help lower our blood pressure (www.huffingtonpost.com), encourage us to be social and more.
I can definitely vouch for Dizzy helping me stay active and be social. I would take her to the dog beach frequently. It wasn't unusual for her to approach other people and wait for me to come get her. I'm a pretty shy and quiet person, so she completely took me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to talk to complete strangers. If I was a dude, she would have been an excellent way to pick up chicks. She generally picked woman to approach and wait for me, it was pretty funny.
I know it's not the right time yet, but I want another dog. Hopefully in the not too distant future.
This is our beautiful girl:
As we get older, dogs continue to contribute to our health in a variety of ways. They help us stay active, can help lower our blood pressure (www.huffingtonpost.com), encourage us to be social and more.
I can definitely vouch for Dizzy helping me stay active and be social. I would take her to the dog beach frequently. It wasn't unusual for her to approach other people and wait for me to come get her. I'm a pretty shy and quiet person, so she completely took me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to talk to complete strangers. If I was a dude, she would have been an excellent way to pick up chicks. She generally picked woman to approach and wait for me, it was pretty funny.
I know it's not the right time yet, but I want another dog. Hopefully in the not too distant future.
This is our beautiful girl:
