What truly sets service dogs apart is the intensive, specialized training that transforms them into life-changing partners.

There's a moment sometimes - usually on an ordinary Tuesday or a lazy Sunday morning - when I look at Chester curled up against my side or Fernando sprawled across the couch like he owns the place, and I feel an overwhelming wave of gratitude.

I have always been grateful that my job has also been my passion.

The other night I lay in bed worrying when a cold wet nose suddenly pressed against my hand.

Like looking into a living, breathing mirror, these dogs have become teachers in my journey toward mental health and self-understanding.

For the many of you who are currently sharing their lives with a happy and healthy animal: be with them, watch them, play with them, train them to understand your words, chat with them. Let today be the excuse for a party.

Queen Anne wasn't just any dog; she was a hospice rescue. She arrived in our home for what were supposed to be her last few weeks, and she stayed with us for nearly three years.

When I wake up each morning, the first thing I see is my pup Macho peeking his furry head up from under his blanket on my bed, eyes full of love, wondering if it’s time to get up and start the day or just roll over and go back to sleep. That morning dose of doggy serotonin is pure joy.

But here’s the thing, the part that might not be so obvious to the naked eye, the reason so many of us in the rescue and humanitarian sector keep going. It's gratitude.

“Don’t get a Malinois,” people repeatedly warned me when I first declared my intention to welcome one of these famously intense Belgian herding dogs into my life.

Even in the darkest times, I could always find gratitude, which I think made a huge impact on my treatment and recovery.

Gratitude between humans and dogs is based on the bond we have together.

Can dogs feel gratitude? Here’s some science.

Right out of the gate, Cleo busted all the myths about older dog adoption or having a big dog in a big city.

Our dogs express their gratitude toward us in multiple ways every day. They snuggle us, lick us, and save us a generous six inches on the bed if we’re lucky.

Lola was at least 13 years old, far exceeding her large breed life expectancy.

Gratitude is the intentional appreciation of one’s circumstances or another’s actions. For many, gratitude is a spiritual practice.

When I became a professional dog trainer, I assumed that my dogs and every dog I worked with would become perfect.

One of my favorite things to do, as the afternoon light begins to slant across the East Bay hills, is to hike across a big field with a pack of five or six dogs.

Have you ever done something for someone and wished they showed gratitude?