3 things I learned from my dog
I adopted a Malshi five years ago. (Malshi = Maltese & Shih Tzu mix) My daughter had wanted a dog ever since she found out the furry creatures exist. I finally gave in and I haven’t regretted it at all. Our fur baby is the perfect compliment to our family. King (we didn’t name him) is crazy, sweet and stubborn. He’s brought a lot of joy and surprisingly, a bunch of life lessons. I can’t imagine my life without him. Here are a few things he taught me:
SITUATION: When we went to pick him up and bring him home for the first time, he looked terrible. His hair was overgrown and matted. Someone had clipped the hair in front of his eyes haphazardly, so he had a big spot missing in the middle of a wild bush. He could have easily been mistaken for a homeless dog.
KING: He was full of energy. He looked happy. His tail was wagging so fast, it looked like a propeller. He greeted me by gently jumping up and putting his paws on my knees. He looked me in the eyes and I could tell he was glad to meet me. His exuberance made me happy.
LESSON: I’m sure King wasn’t aware of how badly he looked. It was clear his previous owners didn’t spend a lot of time with him. Whatever the situation was, this little dog didn’t let it stop him from being joyful. I’ve had bad hair days that took me out. I learned not to let the external effect the internal, to be happy in the moment and that joy is contagious.
SITUATION: King gets walked 3x/day. Sun, rain, heat or snow; it doesn’t matter, King must be walked.
KING: He loves walking. He would walk for hours if you let him. He observes everything. He’s actually quite nosey 😊. He appears to sniff every blade of grass. He takes special care to find the perfect spot to do “his business”. I usually allow him to lead, and he goes in a different direction every time and each time with the same wonder.
LESSON: I’ve learned to enjoy the walk and the process. I take my time because he takes his time. While he’s carefully inspecting each blade of grass, I’ve learned patience. I’ve learned to pay attention to and appreciate my surroundings.
SITUATION: Visitors in the house
KING: The minute a person walks through the door of his house, he’s all over them. Initially he’ll bark, then he’ll sniff you out. If he decides you’re a good person, he’ll want you to interact with him. He’s persistent. You can’t ignore him. He’ll sit directly in front of you and stare you down. He’ll bring his toys to you. He’ll grunt at you. He’ll even hit you with his paw. He will not be denied. He won’t stop until you talk to him, pet him or play with him.
LESSON: Go for what you want. Don’t be afraid of rejection or closed doors. Keep knocking. Don’t give up.
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