If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m not really much of a “people person,” although I do get along fairly well with my friends down at the dog park. That said, though, I prefer the company of dogs.
In fact, my best friend will always be a dog, and I have good reasons for that. I don’t presume to speak for everyone, but I know that I’m not the only person who feels that way. You just have to do a bit of Googling to find the reasons why people say “My best friend is a dog.
Okay, so dogs aren’t perfect (but they’re pretty close!). After all, when we have human friends, we don’t usually have to train them not to pee on the floor (well, remember, I said usually), don’t have to tell them not to run into traffic, and don’t have to (usually) stop them from biting other people.
But I still prefer dogs, and I have 17 good reasons why I feel that way. Here they are.
1. My Dog Likes Doing What I Like to Do
With dogs, you never have to worry about finding the right movie, choosing between Thai food and the all-you-can-eat barbecue (well, okay, dogs would choose the barbecue!), or choosing between a walk in the park or a swim at the lake. For dogs, it’s all good!
The other thing is dogs like doing what you likewhen you like. If that means that you wake up in the middle of the night, can’t sleep, and decide to go for a walk in the moonlight, your dog is totally in!
I remember when I first moved out to our little house in the rural area – I had trouble sleeping at night because I was used to the sounds of traffic, and the silence seemed oddly… well, loud. I’d wake up Gloria, and we’d go wander the roads. Then we’d sleep a bit later. It was all good as far as Gloria was concerned.
2. Dogs Don’t Give You Lip
Sometimes, I don’t even know how my sister, Colleen, and her husband, Max, even manage to tolerate my nephew, Owen! Now, understand that I like Owen more than I like most kids, but he can be a mouthy little snot. And now, he’s at the stage where everything invites a “Why?”
“Owen, it’s bedtime.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s 9:00.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s when the sun goes down.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s when the earth makes its full orbit and —- oh, Owen, just shut up and go to bed!”
“NO! Idawanna!”
See, I don’t have to put up with that. Janice and Leroy go to bed when I do. No fuss, and no lip. Not over bedtime, or anything else.
Whatever I say to Janice and Leroy, that’s fine by them. They don’t question.
3. No Arguments Over Television
Again, back to Owen. Movie night can be a major cause for conflict. Owen wants to watch “Finding Nemo” for the 40th time. Max and Colleen can do the entire dialogue from the movie, having seen it so many times, and they’d settle for just about anything else – even Care Bears cartoons, God help us!
I never have to worry about things like that. I can re-watch Ghostbusters for the umpteenth time, or pick a Netflix series that looks good, or even pull up an episode of Brad Pattison’s At The End of My Leash just to show Janice and Leroy how lucky they are that I don’t use abusive training methods. Whatever I choose, they’re fine with it.
4. Christmas is Easy
I used to agonize over Christmas – what to buy for friends and family, who to have over for Christmas dinner, whether I should go with a traditional bread-stuffed turkey or consider maybe a goose stuffed with raisins and rice, and on and on and on. It’s been so much more pleasant since I just decided to forego all the agony because Janice and Leroy don’t care. Whatever I do, or don’t do, they’re happy.
Throughout the rest of the year, too, they’re content with my cooking. If I cook, that’s great. If I don’t, that’s okay too. I might feel ambitious on occasion and they might get “safe” treats like cooked carrots or green beans or mashed potatoes mixed in with their dog food, or it might just be what comes out of the dog food bag. It’s all good as far as they’re concerned.
5. Birthdays are Easy Too
I’m pretty sure that Janice and Leroy don’t understand the concept of birthdays, but I do, so I always make sure to buy them something. Once in a while, I even make them treats (see 7 Great Homemade Dog Food Recipes) The thing is, I’ve never seen a dog look downcast and offer a begrudging “Thanks” for a gift that wasn’t what he expected. Even when the gift is just a dollar store toy, it’s met with enthusiasm, and if it’s ripped apart five minutes after being received, there are no hard feelings, because those were just the best five minutes in the whole world! Humans are nowhere near that grateful, and that’s another reason why my best friend will always be a dog.
Related Content:
11 Tips for Making More Time for Your Dog
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6. Dogs Don’t Care What You Look Like
I’ve suggested in other posts that my love life is pretty much in the toilet. A lot of that is because I honestly don’t care how I look to other people. If I want to walk to the mailbox down at the end of my lane and pick up my mail wearing torn, stained sweat pants and a t-shirt that says “Vote for Dick,” I’ll do it, and I figure it’s nobody’s business but my own.
Human companions seem to be troubled by that sort of thing.
Janice and Leroy, on the other hand, are all like “Oh, wow, we’re going to the mailbox!”
My best friend will always be a dog, because a dog will always take me as I am, and not worry about how my appearance might supposedly reflect on him.
7. Dogs are Always Happy to See You
I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve gone out to my car, forgotten something, and then come back in the house in the space of about a minute and a half. Each and every time, Janice and Leroy greet me as though I’ve been gone forever. My best friend will always be a dog because no human will ever miss me that much and be so happy when I come back.
8. You Don’t Need an Alarm Clock
A friend of mine recently gave me a coffee mug that she found in an online store. It shows silhouettes of dogs, and the caption reads, “My dogs are the reason I get up every day. Really, really early. Every single day.”
That is so me! I never have to worry about sleeping in, because Janice and Leroy get me up at the crack of dawn. Usually, I hear a soft whimper, and then I get a slurp or two on my face, and then I see those bright eyes, about two inches from my own eyes, just begging me to get up!
How could I refuse?
9. Dogs are Always There for You
I’m usually a pretty upbeat person, but I’m only human, and sometimes I have my “down” moments. When they happen, I know that Janice and Leroy will be there for me. That’s one of the most important reasons why my best friend will always be a dog.
10. Dogs Don’t Judge
I’ve had ups and downs in my life. I’ve been in and out of relationships, employed and unemployed and underemployed, lived in good locations and bad, and through it all, any of the dogs I’ve ever had have been pretty much of the mindset, “As long as we’re together, it’s all good.”
Dogs don’t care how much money you have. They don’t care if you’re popular. They don’t care if your living conditions are substandard. All they care about is YOU.
Dogs don’t tell you to “pull up your socks and make something of yourself.” They don’t presume to advise you on your personal life. All they care about is that you love them.
Sometimes, the loving, non-judgmental dogs in my life have been all that’s kept me going. And that’s another reason why my best friend will always be a dog.
11. Dogs are Fun!
Dogs are always up for a game of fetch, hide and seek, or something else. The playful nature of dogs is always guaranteed to make you smile.
12. Dogs Keep Secrets
You can tell your dog anything at all without having to worry about it showing up on Facebook.
Well, of course, you’re saying, “Dogs can’t log into Facebook and use keyboards.” But you know what? I think that even if they could, your dog would still keep your secrets.
13. Dogs are Great Helpers
I don’t have to worry about dropping food on the floor when I’m cooking because Janice and Leroy will clean it up. And when I’m working in the garden, Leroy helps me dig potatoes – he just loves to dig! Of course, he’s not much help (in fact, he’s pretty destructive) when we’re just in the seedling stage in the garden, but you get what I’m saying – it’s fun gardening with Leroy!
14. Dogs Look After You When You’re Sick
I just came off a miserable summer cold, and while I was sick, Janice laid on the bed with me the whole time. She wandered out a couple of times to do her business (I left the back door open for her) and to get something to eat, but once she finished, she was right up there on the bed with me, with her head on my hip, just loving me.
It’s hard to imagine feeling happy and sick at the same time, but that’s how Janice made me feel, and that’s another reason why my best friend is a dog.
15. Dogs Help You Stay in Shape
Dogs need to be exercised, and so do people. If you have trouble going out and getting the exercise you need, having a dog can help you to be motivated. After all, your dog needs to be walked, so you’re going to have to get out there too.
Related Content:
11 Tips for Making More Time for Your Dog
Best Dog Breeds to Win Over Your Spouse
5 Tips for Dog Owners with Other Small Pets
The Final Word – Dogs Love You
This is really all that needs to be said. If you have no other friend in the world, your dog will love you. Even if you’re not much of a person, your dog will still love you. He will love you forever, and unreservedly. That alone is the primary reason why my best friend is a dog.
Is your dog your best friend? Why? And here’s something to think about – would you like it if your dog could talk? Would it improve your relationship or not? Leave a comment!