The Purest Form of Love
The unconditional love of a pet dog

If you don’t have a pet, probably go out and invest, or at least seriously consider getting one.
Pets just make the quality of your life better, and they fill your life with happiness. They’re always there for you when you’re sad and will cheer you up at a moment’s notice. They are the ultimate life companion and will love you unconditionally.
Anyone who has a pet will tell you they enjoy it when their pet feels comfortable enough to display a sign of affection, solely because they feel an unbreakable bond with you and nothing else. Pets are also fiercely loyal, and won’t hesitate to try to protect or save you whenever they feel necessary. Pets require a lot of work, but the extra effort that one puts into taking care of them will all be worth it in due time. It’s also a little depressing, but they’re much more trustworthy than humans.
Pets won’t sneak behind your back, because they don’t know how to betray you. Pets won’t break your heart, because they don’t know how to display fake love. Simply put, pets display all the natural qualities that we as humans covet but could never fully master. Now, don’t get the wrong idea here. I’m not here to convince you to become the crazy cat lady or dog pound owner, but if you're someone who’s against having a pet, maybe you should reconsider.
For those of you who are anti-pet, I was just like you. I figured that if I didn’t like pets, I would never have to deal with the disappointment of not being able to have one. Ever since Jeff entered my life, that warped perspective has disappeared. Jeff is a little shih tzu who’s only 3 months old, and he’s already affected my life in more positive ways than I ever thought possible.
Shih tzu’s get incredibly uncomfortable if they’re left alone for over two hours, so he’s a little high-maintenance, but he’s absolutely worth it. In life, we only have a certain amount of time on planet Earth. I’m completely aware that I’ll be spending a decent chunk of my life taking care of him, but that’s a small price to pay for the bundle of joy that he is. As mentioned earlier, he is high-maintenance, but he’s one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever seen.
For instance, the little stinker is so smart now that he knows how to roll over despite only being 3 months old. He also knows when I’ll try to put him in his playpen so I can get work done, and he’ll pretend to sit there and wait for me only to dash away at the last second to escape my clutches. He also is trained to not pee on the floor, so whenever he does it’s always right at the door. He also poops wherever he wants, but baby steps.
Jeff is also incredibly well-behaved. It’s a well-known fact that Shih Tzus are one of the most obedient species of dogs out there, but he’s a different kind of good boy. The first time he was placed in his cage to go to sleep, he whimpered for all of 30 seconds before drowsing off. Whereas some dogs would have groaned and woofed for hours, it only took him seconds. Shih Tzus are probably one of the most friendly dogs for new pet owners for this reason among many other obvious ones.
He’s obedient, well-behaved, too smart for his own good, funny, and just downright adorable. Whenever I try to blow at his face, he’ll attempt to eat the air whistling at his face to no avail. He loves snoring in his cage too. He also doesn’t fall for the fake fetch trick, and when I pretend to throw one of his toys and hide it behind my back, he’ll let out a soft bark and just sit and stare at me. He’s also got this kind-of-whimsical grin as his resting face, which you could stare at for hours and it wouldn’t not make you laugh.
Did I mention he was adorable? I don’t think I could ever stoop down to such a level and call him c-u-t-you know what, because it feels degrading not only to him but me as well. He doesn’t quite know how to run either, and he settles for an awkward gallop that mimics a bunny. His long floppy ears whoosh behind him when he runs, and he really looks like a bunny. His face is also small and great for cuddling, which he enjoys.
Not only does he portray a rabbit, but he also flips over like a turtle at my feet when he wants his belly scratched.
I guess for someone reading this who isn’t fond of pets it might sound a little boring, but as a new pet owner, it’s enthralling to experience that firsthand. I don’t have any kids, so he really is in a way my son. It’s crazy to think that he almost ended up never entering my life.
At the breeder, I was playing with another dog and was handed Jeff while he was sleeping. He was no bigger than a small bag of Doritos. He cuddled up into my arm and slept the entire time. And the rest is history. Writing about him just makes me appreciate him more and makes me want to go pick him up this very second to receive my daily lick to the face.
One more thing: For the record, dogs ARE better than cats. Definitely not biased.
