It was July 5th, 2014. My family and I decided to go to the animal shelter to look at dogs for fun. While my sister and I were looking at the tiny, loud dogs, my mom found the only dog that wasn’t barking. His name was Yoshi, and he had the saddest look on his face. Long story short, we ended up leaving the shelter with Yoshi. This was the beginning of my love for dogs.
Dogs are the best pets for a number of reasons. They are:
Loyalty
Dogs are often called man’s best friends because they are loyal and have unconditional love. Unlike other animals, dogs have the ability to make deep connections with humans. I do not see Yoshi as a pet. I see him as my brother, a true part of my family.
Dogs always stand beside us when we are at our lowest. Yoshi has been there for my family during hard times, offering up kisses and cuddles when we need them the most.
Dogs are always happy to see us return after we have been away for hours or even minutes. When I leave my dog home for a period of time, he’s never upset with me. He always wags his tail hard, hitting everything around him and barking at me to express his excitement.
Intelligence
Beyond their loyalty, dogs are also very smart. Each breed of dogs comes with their own set of skills and characteristics.
Dogs can understand human emotions, follow commands, and learn tasks. Aside from the basic commands such as sit, roll over etc., I have taught my dog to ring a bell when he wants to go outside.
Dogs’ intelligence has secured them helpful roles amongst humans. Many dogs help humans from agriculture to service dogs who aid people with disabilities.
Therapy
Dogs are also therapeutic. They can provide emotional support, reduce stress, and offer comfort. Studies have shown that having a dog can reduce blood pressure, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, and just enhance overall well-being.
I have found that when I am stressed or upset, it helps to pet my dog. When his big, sweet eyes stare up at me, all of my worries go away.
Therapy dogs are dogs whose job is to provide comfort in places that may have a stressful atmosphere. These places include hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. At my college, during stressful times like midterms and finals, they bring in dogs for us to play with to ease our minds.
Breed Specific Traits
Each breed offers unique traits to help people choose a dog that suits their lifestyle. Take, for instance, the German Shepherd. This dog breed has a protective nature and a great work ethic. This is why most police dogs are German Shepherds. Police need dogs who are smart, loyal, and will work hard because their job is very important.
Dog breeds like Golden Retrievers would have a hard time staying focused if they were police dogs. Golden Retrievers have a playful liveliness to them. This is why Golden Retrievers are the face of family dogs. They are good with kids and other dogs, too.
My dog, Yoshi, is a Basset Hound. Basset Hounds are known for hunting, but they are also known for being lazy. This could not describe my dog more! He is laid back and will not move unless you say the word “treat.”.
Take this short quiz to find out which dog breed works best for you.
Before Yoshi, I just wanted a pet. I did not care if it was a cat, a guinea pig, a lizard etcetera. But after having an animal care about me as much as I care about them, I know that I will always own a dog.