We've all had those moments where we're nearly ripping out our hair screaming WHY?! Wondering why we put ourselves through such torture. Dog ownership isn't always easy, but anyone who sticks it out through the rough patches knows what I am talking about. Dogs teach you things about yourself you had no idea even existed. So let's here what you have learned from your dogs.
Shelby, my childhood dog, taught me that love is unconditional. Just because you didn't like the behavior at hand had nothing to do with the how much you loved her. She barked, she shed, she would scratch at your legs to get attention, pulled on the leash, chew up your socks and then bark some more. She taught me never to take for granted the time you have with anyone as you never know when they are going to be taken away from you. Be it they move away, drift apart or pass on.
Spanky taught me that being selfless and selfish are often in the eye of the beholder. Keeping him was to neither of our benefits as I was ill and couldn't keep up with his needs anymore but rehoming him was frowned upon by a lot of fellow dog lovers. It was not an easy choice and I held onto him longer than I should of but in the end I knew it was best to find him a new home. Letting go of him was hard but when push came to shove I knew we'd both move on and be happy. I miss him so much.
Miley was quite the lesson. It was such a simple concept I thought I understood until it came time to apply it. Not everyone learns the same. She required a whole different approach. Everyone thought she was a right dimwit. She wasn't. She was just different.
Bandit, last but not least, has certainly taught me the most. He's shown me how to appreciated life, even on the worst of days. If a dog with such baggage can over come his obstacles I can too. Every day he lets me know he loves me. He has give me such joy watching his growth it inspires me to keep trucking through the worst of it with a smile on my face. There is always time to stop and sniff (or pee) on the flowers. Life is too short to take it for granted and it took one heck of a grumpy puppy to let me see that. I think the reason Bandit and I have such a close bond is I see so much of myself in him. Looking back to when I got him we were both miserable, but as time has gone on we've both blossomed into new beings. I look forward to the time we have together.
So what about your dogs?
Shelby, my childhood dog, taught me that love is unconditional. Just because you didn't like the behavior at hand had nothing to do with the how much you loved her. She barked, she shed, she would scratch at your legs to get attention, pulled on the leash, chew up your socks and then bark some more. She taught me never to take for granted the time you have with anyone as you never know when they are going to be taken away from you. Be it they move away, drift apart or pass on.
Spanky taught me that being selfless and selfish are often in the eye of the beholder. Keeping him was to neither of our benefits as I was ill and couldn't keep up with his needs anymore but rehoming him was frowned upon by a lot of fellow dog lovers. It was not an easy choice and I held onto him longer than I should of but in the end I knew it was best to find him a new home. Letting go of him was hard but when push came to shove I knew we'd both move on and be happy. I miss him so much.
Miley was quite the lesson. It was such a simple concept I thought I understood until it came time to apply it. Not everyone learns the same. She required a whole different approach. Everyone thought she was a right dimwit. She wasn't. She was just different.
Bandit, last but not least, has certainly taught me the most. He's shown me how to appreciated life, even on the worst of days. If a dog with such baggage can over come his obstacles I can too. Every day he lets me know he loves me. He has give me such joy watching his growth it inspires me to keep trucking through the worst of it with a smile on my face. There is always time to stop and sniff (or pee) on the flowers. Life is too short to take it for granted and it took one heck of a grumpy puppy to let me see that. I think the reason Bandit and I have such a close bond is I see so much of myself in him. Looking back to when I got him we were both miserable, but as time has gone on we've both blossomed into new beings. I look forward to the time we have together.
So what about your dogs?