Lucky Dog
It has been said that the domestication of dogs is one of the greatest things humans have ever accomplished. I wholeheartedly agree. The dog in the photo is Piper Rennyson. She is the most treasured member of our family, and even though she is not technically a trained emotional support animal, she has gotten each one of us through some extremely tough times. She has licked countless tears from our faces, cuddled up with us for countless hours on the couch, and of course has done countless adorable things that we have tried our hardest to capture on camera.
Even if you don’t have a dog, you can probably appreciate their cuteness and charm. You can’t ignore dogs, because today they are everywhere. The next time you’re in an airport, count the number of dogs you see. There are dogs on leashes, in tote bags, backpacks, and front packs. There are city dogs and country dogs. And don’t even get me started on service dogs; I know you aren’t supposed to pet them when they’re working, but don’t you just want to shower them with love for all that they do?
I would be rich if I could invent something unique for dogs, like an attachable umbrella for walks in the rain or a delicious treat that would slow down a dog’s aging process, because let’s face it, people spare no expense when it comes to their dogs. I’m sure I could buy designer shoes and a coat for Piper that costs more than anything in my own closet.
If you’re on Instagram, you know that it’s full of videos dogs doing amazing things. I don’t necessarily like social media, and I don’t even follow my own kids on Instagram, but some of my favorite accounts that I follow are that of dogs. The worst of days can easily be fixed by thirty minutes of watching dogs deal with a serious case of the zoomies, or a puppy doing almost anything. Try it sometime. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
A few years ago, my mom told me about a show called Lucky Dog. It is by far the most wholesome show on television, and this makes it a must-watch. It’s about a dog trainer, Brandon, who works with shelter dogs to get them ready to live with their soon-to-be adopted family. Brandon first picks the dog up from the shelter and brings it to the vet to determine if he or she has any medical problems, and gets those taken care of before taking the dog to the Lucky Dog Ranch. At the ranch, Brandon does an initial evaluation, and figures out the dog’s personality, habits, and quirks, his or her knowledge of a few basic commands, and what kind of person or family would be best for the dog. Then you’re introduced to the perspective owner. Brandon wants to make sure they’re a good match, so he does a thorough interview to figure out what the owner is looking for, and what the dog needs to learn in order to be happy in his or her new home. This is by far my favorite part of the show. It’s adorable watching Brandon train the dog. When the dog is ready, they meet their new family. There really is nothing better than watching that shelter dog run towards its new owner. It’s pure happiness all around.
Why can we count on our dogs so much? They will always listen to us, never judge us, and love us unconditionally. If you ask me, life would be a little sweeter if we all tried to be more like them.
