The Awesome Dog
Dogs are amazing creatures. They are one of the few animals on earth that truly love to be around us. They are good-natured, dependable and faithful. They are never judgmental, loving and accepting 
us unconditionally. They let us say anything we want while always listening intently, as if it was the most amazing thing they’ve ever heard. They will never turn their back on you, they are devoted and loyal…….always.
“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about puppies.” ~ Gene Hill
Dogs Are Good For Your Health!
There is a reason that dogs tour nursing homes and hospitals. Being around them can lower our blood pressure, relieve our stress and anxiety, provide us with companionship when we’re lonely, and make us smile when we’re down. They are great for our cardiovascular health! They get us out walking, jogging, or at the very least throwing a ball.
What People Can’t Do, A Dog Can!
They’re willing to help, and work hard at all types of jobs. They are service dogs, police dogs, sheep herding dogs, rescue dogs, hunting dogs, guard dogs, and military dogs. They can sniff out drugs, illnesses such as cancer, and find missing people. Wow! There’s nothing wrong with a dog………is there?
“If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” ~ Roger Caras
The Behavior of Dogs
Okay, so occasionally dogs may not be so perfect. They can be little mischief makers, getting into garbage cans, chewing your possessions, barking excessively, and destroying furniture, rugs, slippers and socks. They can roll in puddles and mud, (and quite a few other awful smelling things), and then expect to come into your clean home. They dig up your flowers, they fight with the neighbors dog, chase rabbits, and take an anti-cat stance against fluffy. They Jump on your guests and your furniture too. And, yes, sadly, some have even been known to eat their own poop (dessert from the cat’s litter box anyone?).
But, like all things in life, there is a reason for everything, and a dog’s behavior is no exception. It’s difficult to dehumanize our dogs as most people think of them as a true member of their family. However, that would be a mistake! The truth is, dogs think very differently than we do. If you’ve always wondered how a dog’s brain works, and why they do the things they do, you’ve come to the right place! Within the pages of this site you will be able to explore tons of articles discussing the behaviors that dogs display, and the reasons behind it. I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to leave any comments!
I am so happy to find a place where I can learn why my dog does the things she does! I have an american bulldog who is 3 years old and the absolute love of my husbands life. She seems to know that mom is the disciplinarian and dad is the one to go to for treats and to hide behind when she is in trouble! The problem we have is when we are trying to teach her a new rule like no jumping on small children, if dad is around she will not listen!! If he is NOT around I have no problems at all. How do we work this out so she understands that is the rule no matter who is present at the time? I appreciate any help you can provide!
Camille, It’s so easy to suddenly not have a back bone when it comes to a sweet pair of puppy eyes looking at you. Unfortunately, I think the key to your problem is getting your husband to follow the same type of discipline that you are providing. Your dog most likely becomes confused, and doesn’t understand what is expected of him when your husband is around because he hasn’t provided any discipline in the past. Dogs are very smart, and your dog will soon understand the rules as long as you are both sticking to it. It really does take all members of the family to be on board (as hard as it may be) in order to have the best success. Best of luck in your training!
Hi Carol,
I read your “about me” page as well.
Very cool niche and a very well-written article. Your enthusiasm and passion exude.
I’ve always been a dog lover but have been restricted from having them as I am now. At the moment I live in an apartment complex that does not permit pets.
Both my adult kids had dogs when they were growing up. My son who is 24 has had the same dog, Kirby, since he was 10.
It will be a sad day when Kirby dies.
When my daughter was about 5, our next-door neighbor came running over all excited saying “Sam’s having puppies”.
We rushed next door and peaked through the window as Sam delivered 8 pups.
When one particular pup emerged my daughter said “I want that one Dad”.
About six weeks later Loretta (named after Loretta Lynn) became part of the family. Her nickname soon became Retta, which is what we called her most of the time.
One day I noticed that when Retta was scared or excited her upper lip quivered in a way that revealed her front teeth and resembled a smile.
I was able to teach her to smile on command.
I was the only one who could make her do it on command, although she continued to do it when scared or excited.
Retta lived 17 years. When she died, my daughter went into a depression I’ve never seen her go through before or since, and that includes the death of her first husband.
I have other dog and Retta stories but that’s enough for now.
Thanks for posting.
Bob
Bob, Your comment is heart warming. It’s incredible how much dogs can truly effect our lives in such a positive way, they have such a natural ability to do that! Retta must have held such a special place in your daughters heart. As with any human family member, our furry family members are dearly missed when it’s their time to leave us. Retta lived a good long life as 17 years is quite a span! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, I could listen to Retta stories all day!
Hi Carol – you’ve made a good start to your site. I can relate to the poop eaters. Not me personally, but I’ve had a few dogs who’ve loved treasures in the sand. It reminds me of a basset/border collie cross that I had. She was loveable but painfully dumb. I can’t say that it was adorable when she approached with grains of kitty litter in her whiskers. While it made for a clean kitty litter box, I’ve never accepted dog kisses ever since. I digress…I love the use of dog quotes. I may have to use some of those myself. It was a fitting touch.
Good luck to you,
Shawn
Hi Shawn, Yes, it’s not the most pleasant thing knowing that our furry family members desire the use of a litter box as their treat dispenser! Ah, but such is the nature of dogs! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Hi there Carol,
My dog is almost 10 years old now and she’s a darling. I am always learning something new from her, even as she grows older. Her joy for bones, her fear for thunders and her obsession with rats.
She teaches me a lot about life’s anticipation and enjoying the present moments. I am grateful that she has never been nasty to other people (only to certain dogs) and she gets along well with kids just fine.
Couldn’t ask for more really.
Hi Cathy,
I never tire hearing how much people enjoy their dogs, makes me smile every time. Thanks for your comment!
I enjoy reading about dogs. They are a great antidepressant and just want to be your friend. That being said you were right that there are some disadvantages like them jumping up on you right after a nice muddy rain.
They don’t know any better, though. Whose a good boy, whose a good boy. I look forward to reading more about dog behavior. Maybe you can explain away their poop eating problem. I figured with their strong noses they would be repelled, instead it’s like a delicacy
As far back as I remember we have always had dogs. I am used to seeing everything you are describing, but they are family aren’t they? What is your dogs name in the picture? I enjoyed reading your post.
Hi Jason,
I just wrote an article on why some dogs eat poop, you can link to it here. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment…my dog’s name, by the way, is Amos and he is one awesome pup! 🙂
Hi Carol,
I have a cockapoo/bishon cross that I purchased a year ago, he was 12 weeks old and was in a kennel with his litter mate. He was never allowed out of the crate before I purchased him. I thought I was doing him a favor getting him away from his breeder. He fit in just fine with my other two dogs as a puppy but my problem is that he is so shy he will only come to me. No one else can take him outdoors, he remains a 3 foot distance from everyone. He LOVES me because I always cared for him I suppose. I have had a major change in my employment so I decided I needed to fine him a new home. I found a couple with two children who had another dog. This family had worked with dog rescue so I was sure they could make him a great home. He stayed with them for 3 weeks. He initially bonded to the 7 year old daughter but would not go potty outside, remained at arms length from them and began peeing everytime they spoke to him. I had to bring him back home. Is it hopeless that he could one day adjust to living without me?
I don’t believe in hopeless cases, and shy dogs can definitely be helped. With the right person, I believe your dog could learn to adjust (3 weeks with the other family doesn’t sound like a strong enough effort to me). Something that immediately comes to mind is, knowing this dog’s history it would be very, very easy for someone to pity the dog and baby him to a certain extent. It’s human nature after all, and what most people tend to do. But this creates additional barriers for a shy dog and makes it even more difficult to overcome fears. This is because dogs are so amazing at sensing what we are feeling. Not sure if this may have occurred with the other family (or yourself). If you truly need to rehome your dog, you would need someone who is willing to be a strong leader, while still having loads of compassion, and the willingness to persevere since overcoming fears is no short process. This person would need to be someone that can spend a lot of time with your dog, first giving him the chance to settle into the new household, and then VERY slowly over time exposing him to the things he shies away from (in a way that doesn’t frighten him even more) until he eventually gets better and better. He also needs to develop trust in other people if he is to become a family dog which means that other family members would need to “buy-in” to taking turns caring for the dog’s needs (walking, feeding, etc). Ideally this person would work with a dog trainer or behaviorist experienced in dealing with this type of behavior. Before re-homing you would need to be sure this new person/s understands exactly what they are up against and that this would be a long-term “project”, not a quick fix. This is definitely doable!