Should You Get A Dog? Things To Think About

Do you wonder whether you should get a dog?  You weigh the pros and cons and think about all the work and try to make an educated decision. There are circumstances where someone does not want to have a dog in their life, but I cannot imagine life without a four-legged fur baby.  

For the love of dogs everywhere......if you are wondering whether you should invite a dog into your life, here are some reasons to welcome this four-legged family member:

1. You will no longer need an alarm clock

Dogs have internal clocks with alarms that go off right on time.  They will let you know when it is time to eat, go to bed, or anything else on their schedule that is important. 

My dogs set their morning alarms for the first light. This means that in the summer I get up no later than 5:00 AM and in the winter I have the privilege to sleep until 6:30 AM.  Dogs know how important our daily activities are and want to be sure we get an early start!

2. You do not need to discipline yourself to get in your daily exercise

They will let you know when it is time to take them for a walk. They will bring you their leash, start whining with an extremely high irritating pitch or stare at you incessantly. Sometimes they will pass gas because they know it will get your attention quickly.

3. You will laugh more.

Dogs have an uncanny way to find our funny bone and trigger it. They know how to make themselves look stupid so we can laugh AT them.  Almost every day they do something to make you laugh. I think they have a sense of humor and know how to make us happy. We can learn from them.

4. You are perfect in their sight.

No matter how you see yourself, to your dog you are the most beautiful, loving, and the smartest creature they have ever met. They only have eyes for you. Again – we can learn from them. 

5. You will no longer need a doorbell.

Their hearing is so precise they can hear a cheese wrapper being opened three rooms away while they are sound asleep. When a car approaches your driveway or someone is walking outside your front door, they will hear them before you can see them.

6. You will become more social with a dog.

Try walking down the street or in a park with a dog and not have people stop to talk to you. They have an instant bond with a fellow dog owner and take trust to a whole new level. We can learn from them.

7. Dogs can help prevent asthma and allergies.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year, it showed that when exposed to dust from households where dogs were permitted inside and outside, microbes developed that protected young children from developing allergens.

Dogs have been trained to sniff out cancer cells and often alert their owners before there are any symptoms. Beyond amazing!

8. You can safely share your most intimate secrets with a dog, and they will never tell anyone.

They listen and they do not pass judgment. Ever.

9. When you are hurting emotionally or physically, they know you need attention.

Better yet, they understand your pain. They will cuddle you and stay close to let you know how much they love you. We can learn from them.

10. They are the world's greatest babysitters.

They are cuddly and babies love sleeping next to that heartbeat. When our son was a toddler, our Sheltie stood at the end of the driveway and if our son got too close, she would nudge him back into the yard. She was not taught to do that. It is their instinct to protect.

11. Once they capture your heart, which takes about 30 seconds, they will never let go.

They will not leave you if you get angry. They will not judge you if you gain weight. They will not leave you if you lose your job. They will not leave you for someone else. They will not leave you....period.

Our Rescue Dogs

Here are some of my precious babies that are in doggie heaven:

My husband and I have rescued over 30 dogs and losing them is devastating.  They become such a major part of our life and members of our families.  But for every dog you may lose, there are hundreds of precious ones who need a home. As a rescuer of these beautiful, loving creatures I cannot understand how anyone could abuse or neglect them.

Please share your dog stories with me. In the climate we are now living, we need more warm fuzzy stories.