There is so much stress and strife out there but I’m pretty sure most of us are all looking for peace and harmony. Wanna know where you can find true joy? A dog park. Yep, a dog park.
My husband I and recently took our three dogs to our local dog park and it dawned on me that, despite the endless barking and aimless running of many canines, everyone had a smile on their face. The owners are happy. The dogs are happy. The heavens are happy. That’s our beagle Nick above running with some new friend he met and look at the smile on his face! Priceless.
It’s not very often you find a place of true, unadulterated happiness but my friends, go to a dog park and you’ll find it. And it’s no wonder considering all the ways dogs make us happy.
The fact that science tells us dogs make us happier really only enforces what we already know, right? We know that whether we leave the house for five minutes, five hours, or five days, our canine family members will be there to greet us enthusiastically with open paws. They love us. They adore us.
They also improve our moods. You could say it’s a two-fer relationship. They make us happy and we make them happy. Study after study show our furry friends lessen symptoms of depression, loneliness, and overall feelings of sadness. It’s hard to be sad when a buddy follows your every move, looks adoringly at you with those “puppy dog eyes,” or even jumps on your lap and starts licking your face! Come to find out, those licks actually mean something.
When your dog licks your face, and yes, I agree it can be annoying, but know that it’s a sign of affection and respect. They also may lick when they’re curious about how you are feeling. Dogs sense everything. They have special receptors in their nose and mouth that process and interpret scented molecules in a person. This means that by simply licking your face or smelling your body, your dog may be able to tell whether you’re happy, sad, or stressed. Then, the therapist in them moves in.
Dogs have actually been shown to make great therapists and reduce stress. They have an innate sense of compassion that cues a desire to bring comfort, affection, and encouragement. I distinctly remember this happening when my sister died. Of our three dogs, one is not a big snuggeler unless you constantly pet him. But on that day when my emotions were all over the place and I laid down on our bed, sweet Barry the Beagle jumped up and laid right next to me. He didn’t require petting. He only wanted to comfort me.
As my friends and I just this week, sometimes it’s just about showing up. Often times there are no words to ease the pain someone is going through, but showing up and just being there can help. That’s what dogs do. They don’t say anything. They just show up. It’s all about love.
Dogs know a thing about love as it’s known that they increase oxytocin; “the love hormone.” Simply spending time with your dog actually increases the level of this hormone, which is a neurotransmitter that increases trust and reduces fear. Amazing, right?
Dogs aren’t called “Man’s Best Friend” for no reason. Man, woman, or child, every dog’s middle name could be “Loyalty.” The most common cartoon name for a dog is Fido and how appropriate since the Latin word for “faith” is “fidem” and who’s more faithful and loyal than a dog? The special skills of dogs and their undeniable loyalty were on full display during WW1 when “Mercy Dogs” were trained to sniff out the wounded and bring them first aid in the battlefields. If a soldier was beyond saving, the dog would lay down next to him so he didn’t have to die alone.
Also interesting is the story of a dog who went missing. Lots of people searched for the dog to no avail, and then someone suggested the owner to put an item of his clothing down in the area the pooch was thought to be lost. At first light, the dog was found sitting on the owner’s coat. Don’t believe me? Okay men, put your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car. Come back in a bit and let them out. One will be sooooo happy to see you; the other one not so much. It’s pretty easy to guess who’s who here and if you disagree you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree!
All joking aside, you can learn a lot from a dog, as one of my favorite authors and bloggers Courtney Carver wrote. (Her book “Soulful Simplicity” is one of my all-time favorites.) Her “Seven Lessons My Dog Taught Me About Living Simply” can teach us all something.
Your favorite things are enough. Dogs tend to have their favorite toys, beds, spots, even humans in the family and we humans do too. Do you use or wear the same things again and again? Like dogs, Carver recommends if you want to enjoy your favorite things, only own your favorite things. Her “Be More with Less” site helps enforce the fact that living simply is not a sacrifice and that we all need less than we think to be happy.
It’s always a good idea to go outside. Hello dog park! Hello walking your dog! Best thing about our local dog park? Yes, it’s a place of delight but it also has a track around its perimeter so while the dogs run around, I get my walk in. They say if your dog is fat, you’re not walking enough. Dogs love going outside and it’s good for us too. I agree with Carver that I always feel better after a walk or any outdoor activity.
Just be there. I talked about this above in that just being there for someone, not necessarily solving any problems or giving advice, is often just what they need. As my friends and I joked about this very subject, we were reminded you never want to come in hot as “the devil’s advocate.” It’s called that for a reason and it’s not good. Instead, be a dog. Just be there.
Appreciate a small space. Bigger is not always better. Wherever you are in your big or small house, your dog is going to be right there with you. They don’t care if they live in a mansion or an apartment, as long as you’re there they are happy. And secure. And content. We need to be like that and appreciate the magic of living in a small space.
The next thing doesn’t matter. This I need to work on and didn’t realize my dogs can teach me about being fully present. I’m a planner. I don’t like to forget something or forget to do something. Our dogs? They don’t care what happened yesterday or what comes next. All they care about is right now. If nothing is going on, they lie down and slow down. We could all do more of that ourselves.
Forget what happened yesterday. You could say this is the cousin of #5 as just as much as what comes next doesn’t matter, in many ways neither does what happened yesterday. Every day is a new day. Dogs don’t have very long memories, which becomes apparent in training or disciplining them, and that’s not always a bad thing. I tend to hold on too much at times but unless something yesterday is something you can learn from or improve, let it go. Let it go with love.
Be gentle. Oh, how I love this one. Being Hispanic and married to a Yankee, a calm and gentle demeanor isn’t always easy to come by in our house. Our dogs on the other hand, are gentle. They are not aggressive or angry and are great examples of being gentle in our relationships, our health, and our work. Quiet your life, slow down, and enjoy the moment. Sit. And stay.
Well dog gone it, look at all we’ve learned! As I write this, I have a Beagle next to me reminding me to be loyal, be loving, and be active. Those are such tail-wagging ideas I may even go to the dog park and enjoy these dog days of summer!
Beyond Words 