Why your dog might be the best therapist you’ll ever have
They say a dog is a man’s best friend but I believe there’s more to it than that. A dog can be like your therapist or spiritual teacher, instructing you daily to pay attention to what really matters.
Although I’ve had an affinity with animals since I was a child, I never imagined that I’d ever experience the kind of all-encompassing love that I have for the dog I adopted from a shelter almost 5 years ago. My dog, Luna, dropped into my life one cold January day, a bundle of silky black fur and dark, moon shaped eyes that took over my heart.
It didn’t take long for me to see that she was a beautiful, gentle soul whose presence was transformative.
As a puppy, Luna needed a lot of care and attention, but I quickly realized that she was there to take care of me too.
The more intertwined our lives became, the more I noticed how much I was learning from her.
I owe her a lot.
Here are some of the lessons I gleaned from the beautiful soul that is my Luna, and that perhaps might be beneficial to you too.
If, however, you already have a dog, pay close attention and allow him/her to teach you a few things about life. Dogs might not be able to talk, but they’re infinitely wise in their own right.
1. Be present
We intellectually grasp the importance of being present, of the idea that our lives are never not happening now. We know that the incessant stress of rushing from one thing to the other is killing us, yet we struggle to embody the moment fully.
That is why having a dog is so special-these furry creatures are always here now. They’re never thinking about what it is that they next have to do, or why that encounter with the dog they met a few weeks ago in the park didn’t go so well.
It’s not that they are making an effort to do this; it just comes naturally to them.
So, what can we learn from this?
Let your dog be your reminder to be more present to life. If you don’t have a dog, watch your cat, or the birds in the tree outside the window. Notice how effortlessly they sit in the moment.
As you observe, ask yourself: Am I aware of my breath? Have I paid attention to any sensations in my body? Have I taken note of the sounds and smells around me at all today?
If you have a dog, use your walking time together to try to experience life as he/she does. Observe your surroundings; look, actually look, at the trees, the grass and listen to the crunching of your feet on the path.
Pay attention to the smells, the aroma of the loamy soil and fallen leaves.
Land into the present moment, right next to your dog, and take in the fact that you’re alive. You’re alive and you’re here. Isn’t it wonderful to sense that every now and again?
2. Appreciate how precious life is
When I look at my dog, I can’t help thinking sometimes about how short and precious her life is. Dogs do not live as long as humans, and this breaks my heart. I can’t fathom life without her.
As much as this truth hurts, it prevents me from ever taking her for granted, since our time together is so fragile and special.
This reminds me that life in general is precious; there are no guarantees for any of us. We think the people we love will always be around, although we, in truth, simply don’t know how long we’ll get to be with each other.
So, appreciating the brevity of your dog’s life can allow you to also extend this appreciation to the other people in your life.
Meditate on this truth and allow your dog to teach you about the preciousness of the time you have with the ones you love.
3. Recognize that your energy matters
When I first adopted Luna, I had no idea that dogs could be so affected by the emotions and moods of the humans caring for them.
To my amazement, I started to observe how my dog reacted whenever I was stressed and anxious. If I was feeling unwell, she also seemed to be unwell. This would express itself as agitation, specific changes in behaviour or even certain physical symptoms.
Although I had no proof that there was a link between my state and hers, it happened so often that I couldn’t help seeing a pattern there.
This led me to understand that dogs pick up on our feelings. I’m not a dog behaviourist but I’ve seen it over and over.
Seeing how affected Luna was by my inner state made me want to take better care of myself. She made me understand that my emotions and energy were not inconsequential, and that making a change was vital for the both of us.
I’m here to tell you something your dog , or any other pet that you might have, is probably trying to communicate to you as well-your emotions and energy matters. When you are feeling off, so are they.
Your dog will reflect back to you when you are off balance, when it is time to take a step back from a stressful situation or ask for help.
As you realize how powerful your energy and emotions are, perhaps you will find it more necessary to prioritize your well-being. You might not be able to see your energy and feelings, but your dog probably can.
Take care of yourself. It matters, both for you and the ones around you.
4. Be honest and trust your intuition
If a dog doesn’t like something or someone, they make that very clear, either by growling or running away. They don’t pretend or lie; they rely on their instincts and react accordingly.
How often have we felt that something or someone was wrong for us but gone in that direction anyway? To what extent do we live our lives in tune with our own intuitive voice?
It is not always easy to be honest about what we want and need, and to heed that insistent inner voice. It is, however, a worthy endeavour to try and live in accordance with it.
Dogs always trust their intuition and instinct; let us strive to do the same.
5. Be fiercely protective of your own boundaries
When someone is walking past my house, my otherwise sweet and timid Luna turns into a ferocious warrior. She charges into the garden and barks at the passers-by through the fence, acting as if she were double her size.
While it can be annoying at times, I’ve come to understand that Luna has clear boundaries. Her home is her sanctum, and she feels it is her responsibility to keep it free of any possible threats.
As humans, we forget at times that it is paramount to protect aspects of our lives from threat; too often, we allow things that matter to us to be eroded, such as our precious time, our creative projects, or the relationships that are important to us.
Yet, sometimes we too must become fierce; not to act in an aggressive way, but to stand up for what matters to us and to say no to what doesn’t serve us.
Can we say no to toxic relationships or situations we’re in? Can we set up boundaries when they are needed, when they are necessary for our own sanity and happiness?
Dogs know when to enforce boundaries-perhaps this is something we can learn from them?
6. You are lovable and worthy not because of what you have or do or look like, but simply because you are you
Dogs don’t care at all whether you have money, what kind of car you drive or what you look like. They don’t look at you and judge you, as we do to our own selves. These external factors are insignificant to them; they just love you for being you.
Can we learn to love our own selves in this way too?
It’s not an easy task and certainly not a straightforward one; however, living with an animal that loves you in this way can act as a reminder that that is what you need to be working towards.
Let your pet’s unconditional love for you prompt you to remember why the work of loving and appreciating yourself is perhaps the most valuable work you will ever do.
7. Embrace life and be in joy
When I watch my dog tearing after a ball, or bounding with abandon through the forest, her joy and zest for life is infectious.
Luna knows how to dive into the beauty of life, to jump into the moment and live it fully. She is not afraid to take up space or to fully embody her own aliveness. To watch her run is to watch her fly.
How often do we fly like that, throwing ourselves into life with joy, as we perhaps did when we were children? Do we make space for elation and laughter, or are we too busy chasing goals and ticking off items on our to-do lists?
Life is hard, undoubtedly. We have things to do, things we must do as adults. Yet, if we cannot occasionally make time for delight, what is the point of it all?
∞∞∞
Dogs have so much to teach us, if we let them. While we’re very different from them in so many ways, these wise beings have a way of experiencing life that can be profoundly impactful and transformative.
We often talk about getting a bird’s-eye view of things in order to get some perspective; I would argue that we try to get a dog’s-eye view instead. It might just change everything.
