“I think it’s time to have a dog back in our lives” – my wife said…
….That was 18 months ago and a little over 18 months after our much loved Bob the dog (a Tibetan Terrier my wife rescued from the streets of Portugal) had passed away in her arms.
I’ve spent the majority of my life with no pets, though I’ve always loved animals. So by my late 20’s I decided I’d keep chickens (they do make great pets), unfortunately they became impractical as my lifestyle became more travel and working longer hours.
After that, it wasn’t until my 30’s when I realised that responsible and respectful dog owners are some of the most interesting and successful people I’d spent time with. I consistently saw that the majority of responsible dog owners naturally create positive impact in their lives as well as those around them.
Not only that, I discovered there are several key benefits to having a healthy relationship with dogs, ranging from living longer to being a clearer communicator. Here are my top 4:
1. You become a black belt in communication. Susan Garrett is a great person to learn from. I’ve really had to up my game on communication since having a dog, and this has improved my whole life, even though I’m constantly making mistakes, I’m still improving and having a dog has forced me to think about clarity.
2. You become a stronger parent and leader. 4 years before I became a dad, Bob the dog entered my life (he and my wife came as a pair). The culture shock of being a coach, mentor, partner and someone who Bob relied upon for play, walking and feeding was difficult to deal with in the beginning. I was used to being selfish and doing what I wanted on my own terms. By the time I became a dad I was pretty good at balancing the needs of a family member that depended on me as well as not forgetting my own.
3. Families who have dogs have children with stronger immune systems. Babies and toddlers who grow up in a home with a dog are much less likely to get common illnesses and suffer from allergies:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/babies-with-dogs-less-likely-to-develop-colds-ear-infections-as-infants/
4. Dogs build routine into your life, and routine is good for the mind, body and spirit. This results in reduced stress and increased happiness. David Agus tells us in his book “A short guide to a long life” (rule 49) to get a dog. A dog keeps you on a regular schedule, reduces stress and increases exercise outside.
Embracing a dogs companionship and love is a joy. I’m grateful for having a family dog (he’s called Bertie and is just over 1 years old). I’m grateful even though there are times I have to remind myself of that. Bertie ate my sons Lego Batman and Darth Vadar earlier this year (I had to find replacements sharpish!), and the garden plants have suffered somewhat from his puppyhood.
Bertie the dog at age 5 months
All in, I’ve not only become a better person, my kids have a stronger immune system and my wife and I might even live longer!
Go rescue a dog.