Six Lessons My Dog Is Trying to Teach Me

And why I’m too stubborn to get it.

It is never a bad time for a nap.

My dog naps often. He naps everywhere. Sure he has his favorite spots, but he will curl up just about anywhere and snooze. His napping has nothing to do with stress or not having slept well the night before. He naps when he feels like it.

I do not nap often. In fact, I rarely nap. I cannot nap because life forbids it, or so I tell myself. My days consist of parenting and working. I act as if I can’t take a nap because my world would not allow the pause. I have a fear that I will miss out on something, or worse, society will frown upon my ‘lazy ways.’

The truth is, this is all bull crap. I could nap if I wanted to. Perhaps, I’d be better off if I did. I’m not considering daily naps, but once or twice a week I could schedule an hour or two to take a snooze. Or even better, just give in every once in a while when the urge strikes. The world will go on without me just fine, and I’d probably be twice as productive because of it.

Anytime is an appropriate time for snacks.

My dog loves snacks. He wants a treat all of the time. When he comes inside, he wants a treat. When he finishes dinner, he wants a treat. When I walk through the kitchen, he wants a treat.

I would also like a snack all of the time, but I do not allow myself to have one very often. I do not eat snacks whenever the urge hits, because I have trained myself to think it is not appropriate. Snacks ruin my appetite for meals, which I try to keep structured (per society). Too many snacks will also cause me to gain weight, which society also frowns upon.

What if I did allow more snacks? Perhaps I should have one whenever the craving comes. If I was more prone to treat myself with a snack, just because, it may be easier to stick to other goals. After all, who really knows what the right recipe for healthy living is? So what if I eat more snacks and smaller meals? Maybe less structure, less pressure from society, and more natural instincts are the way to go.

Not all people are good.

My dog doesn’t like all people. He loves most people at the first meeting. As long as he is introduced properly, he will make a fast friend. However, there are people that he doesn’t like. It doesn’t matter how they were introduced to him or my feelings towards the person, he just doesn’t like them. He doesn’t fake it, his feelings are pretty obvious.

I like all people, or at least I pretend to. When I meet new people, I try to assume the best. If I do not have that warm and fuzzy feeling from the get-go, I keep trying. Especially if a friend is introducing someone they really like, I feel like I need to do my best to like them too.

This is also bull crap. I do not have to like everyone. Maybe, I should pay more attention to my gut feelings about people. How often do we ignore red flags, only to regret it later? I know I do it way too often. Trusting my initial response to new people may be a more effective way of managing my tribe.

If you don’t like it, leave.

My dog gets up and leaves the room anytime he pleases. If there are too many people, he leaves. When the temperature isn’t right, he gets up and finds a more pleasant place to be. No matter how comfortable he looks, when the kids or other dogs start to bother him, he leaves.

We are guided by manners and sometimes laziness. When I am comfortable in a room, I am quick to be irritated if I am suddenly bothered. If I am cold or I am hot, I bitch for a while and then carry on. A room full of people I have had enough of leaves me crabby on the inside while smiling politely on the outside.

I should leave. When I am comfortably relaxing and the kids or animals disturb me, I should get up and find a new cozy spot. Rather than bitch or allow myself to ruin my own mood, I should move. I could spend the time getting comfortable again instead of stewing over all of the things I can’t control.

Routine is key.

My dog thrives on routine. It is so important for him to be able to count on certain things. He likes his walks at a certain time. If I do not take him around the same time every day, he gets squirrelly. He needs his dinner at the same time every day. When I neglect his schedule, it leads to him getting into trouble more times than not.

I also thrive on routine, as do my children. So why is it so hard to stick to one? If I do not eat my meals, take my showers, and go to bed at similar times each day, I also get squirrelly. It is so easy for a meant-to-be productive day to turn into an all-day Netflix day if I stray from this routine.

I need to be more conscious of my routine. For myself, my kids, and my dog, I should become a creature of habit. Why not avoid disruptions and squirrelly behavior? Things would run so much smoother if I just stuck to my routine.

Friends are important in moderation.

My dog really enjoys playing with his friends. He will run around and play with my best friend’s dogs for hours. He gets excited at just the mention of their names before we head to their house. He loves his buddies, but when he’s had enough he makes it clear. His playful demeanor turns to annoying growls and pacing by the door. If I do not allow him to take some space or a time out when needed he becomes very grumpy.

I also enjoy my friends. I look forward to scheduled get-togethers and even enjoy the occasional surprise visit. I like to help them out anytime I can. However, sometimes I don’t want to. I may not feel like hanging out with my friends or may just need my own space, but I usually force myself to be social.

I should appreciate my friends and keep an open-door policy, but it is important to understand that moderation is key. I also need my own space. When I feel like it is just too much, it needs to be okay to cancel plans or turn down invites. It is not necessary to provide an acceptable reason, it is okay to need alone time.

My dog has a lot of wisdom to share if I would just allow myself to learn from him. What is your dog trying to teach you?