Why Your Dog Is More Than Just A Dog

So many people have them yet most never acknowledge the depth of the parallels in which dogs exist compared to us as human beings. They are more than just shedding four legged mammals that beg for your food and demand walks. Perhaps if everyone gave them the necessary respect in order to view them as more, the percentage of people that see them as “just dogs” would drastically dwindle.

I myself have had several dogs over the years. At one point I even had 7 all at the same time. And if there is one thing I can say about these beautiful beings, it is that their capacity to be more than just the average dog is based solely on the amount of love, time, attention, and affection you pour into him or her. Most people remain in the mindset that they are no more than a pet, and while that is in some shape or form true, it is that way of thinking that prevents your dog from ever becoming more than that.

I am naturally an observer. So of course during the times where I had multiple dogs of my own and the times where I was around a much larger than preferred amount for some that belonged to close friends, I observed them very closely. And what I have come to realize over the years is that dogs have their own personality and traits. They have their own attitude, mannerisms, and behaviors that are simply products of their own unique individuality or perfectly justified by the conditions in which their owners have created for them. Just like humans. I’ve seen dogs with anxiety develop their own coping mechanisms. The biting and gnawing at several of your home belongings can yes, be very annoying but have you ever stopped to at least try and figure out why exactly it is your dog does this? The way a therapist would help you get to the bottom of your own accustomed behaviors. Instead of just chopping it up to, “Oh he’s just being a dumb dog.” ?.

Have you ever stopped to try and understand the behaviors of your dog as you would do for your children? Because in my eyes, they are the same thing. The only difference is that dogs are incapable of verbally communicating. And I emphasize verbally because they can not speak however they communicate with us on a daily basis in the only ways that they can. All you have to do is pay attention. I equate people's unwillingness to expand their horizons when it comes to going the extra mile for their dog to the same language barriers that prevent many human beings from understanding and accepting each other.

What most people fail to realize is that language was taught. Therefore we can exist and have existed without it. That is what our 5 senses are for and all the others if you’re one of the many people who are learning as I am too, that we are actually equipped with a vast amount of senses than just the 5 most evident. However these 5 most evident senses we have, touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste, DOGS HAVE TOO. Did anyone ever realize that? Realize that they easily communicate to us through these senses everyday yet most fail to recognize this simply because there are no words coming from their mouth. But then why is it that new born babies aren't subjected to the same bias? They can not articulate themselves with words for the first year of their lives, yet relatives will lose their minds in an attempt to understand what they are trying to convey through the senses they do have control over. Can we not show dogs this same respect? Especially being that they will never acquire the ability to verbally communicate and the 5 senses are all that they have.

The people that have dogs but aren't willing to do their part in expanding their awareness of the dog simply because he or she is a dog, contribute to the world wide fact that human beings have a hard time respecting things that are different than us. They come in smaller bodies, they are covered in fur, and you are solely responsible for their lives as you are for your children. They will never be able to help you do the dishes, come to your graduation, or give you presents on holidays but with the necessary devotion and love, they will reimburse you with that same love.

All you need are those 5 senses to show love and they do it any chance they get. Where as human beings we equate love with: gift giving, showing up for occasions, messages, verbal “i love yous” and terms of endearment, your dog has been trying to display the same thing. In all the times he annoyingly licked your face nonstop, in all the times he refused to get out of your bed, in their unhesitant willingness to bark and protect you anytime the atmosphere becomes chaotic. In all the times he kneeled his head in your lap as you cried. They are trying to support you in the emotional ways we as human beings have come to take for granted. They love us unconditionally and are here to remind us to do the same.

Here is a picture of my Siberian Husky, Natsu. He lays in my bed sprawled out like this almost every night, exhausted. He doesn’t have a job, and doesn’t help clean up around the house but perhaps he’s exhausted from living in a world that never acknowledges his futile attempts to show love. I see him though. And I understand and love you Natsu!