This is Sandy, she's my (well, my parents') 10 year old Labrador. She's going grey around her mouth and on the tip of her tail and yet she's so sweet, affectionate and loving. Basically, she's my best friend. It's like the old phrase 'man's best friend', although that phrase is really far too sexist for my liking, but feminism is a topic for another day. But if you put a dog in front of me I will want to fuss it. Heck, I even think I have a dog radar or something, I'll see a dog in the distance and it'll either instantly brighten up my day or make me feel miserable that it's too far away for me to pat or ask its owner a million questions about its name, age, favourite colour etc.
But what I love about dogs is how they teach us to love. Your dog is loyal to you, they love you and they'll never leave you. They'll wait for you to come home and they'll always be so so excited to see you when you do. A dog knows when you're upset or unwell and they'll offer comfort and support. A dog will never leave you being bored because they'll want to play. A dog gives you a routine and a purpose, for them you get up on a morning; for them you get out of the house every day for a walk; for them, you know that life isn't just about looking after yourself because there's a little furry creature who depends on you, even when all they can give you in return is a few licks and some slobbery toys.
During exam season, there were several events at my uni which involved dogs (oh did I tell you how amazing dogs are for stress and anxiety?). One of these sessions involved guide dogs. I found it so rewarding talking to guide dog trainers and visually impaired people about their dogs. It was really an incredible experience to see just how clever these animals can be. They know their right and left, they know when they're working and when they can have fuss and those who need them can wait up to two years for a match, because each dog is specifically matched up to each owner. The fact that a little cute furry thing with floppy ears can be trained to give people an independence is utterly incredible.
I really hope you enjoyed my blog post, thank you so much for reading!
Peace and love xo
But seriously, how can you not like dogs?
