What Dogs Give Back: Life Lessons To Be Grateful For

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I’ve had a deep love of dogs for as long as I can remember, though I’m not sure where it came from. My earliest dog-related memory is my getting my first puppy, Rusty, an Irish Setter. I must have been about four years old, and I was so excited!

Unfortunately, Rusty didn’t last long in my family. I think my father must have brought him home as a surprise, one that did not thrill my mother. He was a very energetic puppy, my mother had two children under the age of five plus a rogue of a husband, and we lived in a townhouse without a yard. Rusty was re-homed to a family with property a few hours away before he was even six months old. It broke my heart. Alas, a common story. 

But I did indeed get another dog of my own. About a year after Rusty’s departure (which I lamented constantly and never let my parents forget), I was able to persuade my folks to get me a Sheltie. I was already a Lassie fan by then, and now I had a mini Lassie!

Perhaps that early experience of losing Rusty shaped me more than I realized. I do remember reading every novel I could find about dogs as soon as I was able to read. By the time I was nine years old, I had devoured all of the canine classics.

Maybe loving and losing a puppy so early did something to deeply ingrain dogs in my heart. Maybe hearing my parents say that the puppy was too out of control sparked something that would guide my personal and professional life for the next 40 years. Maybe the experience of losing Rusty to “behavior problems” fueled my passion for bringing training programs into animal shelters across the world. 

Although it was sad for me, I am grateful for my experience with Rusty, just as I am grateful for all of the magnificent canine beings who have graced my life since then. Each one has brought me so much joy and comfort, and I have learned so much from all of them.

Having dogs in my life has taught me responsibility. I learned this early on when my daily job was to feed and walk my beloved dog, Charlie Brown. But that lesson only deepened when I got my first dog as a young adult and realized there’d be no more after work happy hours for me. Oh, the sacrifice! I had to go straight home to exercise and care for my Bubs.

Life with dogs has taught me how to get over myself. Sometimes you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do for the benefit of others. At times, this has been as simple as taking my pup for a hike on a cold and rainy day when I would rather binge watch something from my snuggly spot on the sofa, cozy and warm under the covers. Other times, it means pulling that revolting blade of grass out of my dog’s bum. Ewww. 

But the thing I am most grateful to dogs for is bringing training into my life. Dog training specifically, but really learning how to teach and learn in general. When you train dogs, you inevitably end up teaching people, too. 

Training dogs has been such a gift in so many ways. I’ve had to learn to be humble. Dogs are sentient individuals and will ultimately do what they want to do unless you are skilled enough to entice them to go along with your idea. And sometimes what they want to do is use your new training client’s leg as a fire hydrant - a humbling experience to be sure! 

I’ve had to learn to zip my lip: to observe, listen, and let go of my egocentric perspective. Sometimes I channel my inner David Attenborough and simply watch the beautiful creature in front of me and take notes. In these moments, I like to imagine myself as a naturalist of sorts.

In animal shelter work and in private behavioral consultations, I have had to learn to  suspend judgement and grow my sense of compassion for others. Often the “problems'' a dog presents are merely side effects of the interpersonal human dynamics at home (I have absolutely had to hone my couples counseling skills, which I didn’t even know I had). Training dogs has deepened my interest in psychology, behaviorism, ethology, and genetics. It’s opened so many avenues of interest for me that it would take 10 lifetimes to thoroughly explore them all.

Dogs have guided me on my journey in learning how to let go. I’ve had to learn to be compassionate and selfless when it’s time to say goodbye, an experience that is always devastating, but oh so worth it. Though letting go is hard, I could not imagine a life without all the incredible dogs I’ve shared my time with, whether for a brief period or years and years. They have all touched me deeply and left their mark, and I am the better for it.

Finally, I am grateful to dogs for bringing so many wonderful people into my life. People like you, reading this piece right now. We are a special tribe, we dog people, a passionate and dearly dedicated bunch. We are hearty, and we are fragile. We are brave in our unwavering commitment to these animals who so enrich our lives yet never stay long enough. 

I see you and I thank you...for the love of dogs.