Our Love for Our Dogs

“Thorns may hurt you, men desert you, sunlight turn to fog;
but you're never friendless ever, if you have a dog.”
Douglas Malloch

by Skip Cohen

Remember, it's Sunday and Reflections I rarely write about business and marketing. It's sharing whatever is on my mind, and today it's appreciation for the pups in our life!

As I sat down to write this morning, I noticed Lucy over on the love seat in my office. In her usual spot, she was comfortably curled up and content to wait for me to finish my Sunday morning routine. She looked at me for a second, knowing full well that she'd hooked me into coming over for a conversation and to scratch her ears.

​What is it about the way our pups understand us? What is it about their ability to love unconditionally, always knowing when we need a hug?

Some time along life's journey, Sheila and I became a dog family. I'd never had two dogs before, and when we lost Molly the Wonder Dog, I doubted whether or not pups would ever be a part of my life again. Nine months later, Sheila said we should get two dogs, one for each of us. Here we are celebrating six years since Lucy and Belle came into our family...no, they BECAME our family.

Our day starts the same every morning - up at 6:45 am and getting the pups out. Then they get brushed and we do the "Kibble Train." It's something Sheila started, and it makes us laugh every day. The pups are on top of the washer and dryer, and Sheila takes a big handful of kibble and makes a line across in front of them. They sit patiently waiting for the line to be constructed. On the word "Okay," they start in on their own section of kibble with all the focus of Al Pacino doing a line of cocaine in Scarface. Tails wagging and us laughing is the kickoff to every new day.

I've written a lot about dogs over the years, but I continue to be fascinated by their intuition and ability to sense whenever either of us needs a hug. If we're not feeling well, they're there to check on us. If we're frustrated or sad, again, they're by our side. And nothing tops the chart of smile-making moments like asking if they want to go for a ride. Just hearing the word "ride" sends them running to the back door. And God forbid they should hear the word "cookie," and they're instantly waiting by the cabinet where their snacks are kept.

Here's my point this Sunday morning - our dogs make our lives richer. They're emotional gummies filling our hearts with love, even when we're tired and running on empty. They understand us better than we know ourselves, and there's never a moment when they're not there for us.

So, we became dog people. They're with us almost all the time, and while they have their own bed, even the end of the day has its own routine when Sheila tucks them in for the night. And out of all the daily routines has come an incredible bond, making life more fun and filling us with a never-ending barrage of smiles and laughs.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with time with the people and pets you love. Those eleven-second hugs I always write about aren't exclusive to people. In fact, Lucy and Belle both know the word "hug." Sitting down with them, within seconds of saying it, they're up on their hind legs with both paws reaching for our shoulders. They may not be officially registered as emotional support dogs, but living in a world that's currently upside down, they help us forget the problems and focus on what's most important - the love in our home.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

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I know I've shared this collage before, but it's too much fun not to share again.

​"I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source."
Doris Day