6 Things Dogs Teach Me
I have been a dog lover since childhood, and I grew up in a country where cats and dogs roam the streets. I used to feed them, play with them, and help them whenever they needed it. I even took a few to the vet to make sure they were healthy. However, with so many animals in need, it wasn’t possible to help them all. Fortunately, things are changing in my home country. There are now more shelters available, and people are more aware of animal rights. The number of pet adoptions has also increased, especially after the pandemic.
During the pandemic, like many others, I found myself questioning my life purpose, skills, passions, and the future. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was working remotely and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always had a love for dogs and feel happiest when I am surrounded by them. After being a dog owner for almost eight years and having taken care of dogs belonging to my friends and family, I felt experienced and knowledgeable enough to turn my passion for dogs into a small side hustle, including dog walking, sitting, and boarding services.
While working remotely, I started accepting dog daycare and boarding requests. I started with small dogs and little fees at the beginning and hosted them at my place. Being a dog lover wasn’t enough because there is much more to consider and learn about dogs. Also, they are such sensitive and emotional animals, so extra knowledge would never hurt. The more dogs I took care of, the more familiarity and confidence I gained. I learnt about their body language, behaviors, health, and training, and I met more than thirty breeds in the past few years. Learning about new breeds expanded my knowledge and helped me find my ideal breed for the future, so I’m happy that my dog love pushed me to find flexible ways to work with dogs without going to veterinary school, and I want to share what I learnt from the furry ones so far.
1. I became a morning person
I used to be a night owl, and dogs completely changed that lifestyle and made me enjoy the mornings even more. Dogs sleep and wake up early, and early morning walks are the best with them as I love the morning calmness, fresh air, dogs sniffing around, and the coffee smell. Starting the day right after morning walks sets me up for the day and keeps me more productive and motivated.
2 . Always stretch before rising and shining
Dogs tend to stretch every single time they get up. Even if they come to play with you, they do their stretch and then play the game. On the opposite side, humans usually tend to move fast, jump into action quickly, maybe act before thinking, and get things ready before they get themselves ready. Throughout the years, I learnt how to take breaks, warm up before big moves and projects, and make a “one thing at a time” habit, even though it’s easy to break this habit in fast-paced multitasking setups.
3. Staying in the moment
Dogs are pros at this, and they are also good at being themselves. Dog parks are one of the best examples of that; every time I go to a dog park, it feels like a stress relief because seeing several of them running around freely and playing makes me happy and entertained. Their only goal is to have fun and enjoy the moment.
4. Staying active and adventurous
Dogs love walks, big grass parks, dog parks, and some even like beaches or snowy trails. As a nature lover, I enjoy long walks and hikes with dogs. Also, exploring new trails and paths with them was always fun for me, especially once they start sniffing around non-stop and smiling during spring or summer. They all do their best during long walks and then get back to their comfortable beds and rest all night, and it’s not a bad life at all.
5. Pure friendship and loyalty
Dogs are amazing companions and loyal friends who love and protect us unconditionally. They have an exceptional ability to understand our emotions and mirror our energy levels since they are extremely emotional animals. Dogs feel happier when they sense our happiness, and they feel sad or low when we’re down. Their loyalty is unmatched as they never abandon their family and always remain by their loved one's side.
6. Naps are important
As I just mentioned, throughout the years, I learnt how to take breaks, warm up before big moves and projects, and make “one thing at a time” a habit. Dogs take several naps and can sleep up to 14 hours a day. Watching pets find their cozy corners and curl up to nap is also comforting and relaxing.
I was never a nap person before dogs, and I felt inspired to take naps thanks to furry friends. Now, I can see and feel the difference in my productivity and physical well-being when I include naps because they’re great daily boosters!
I appreciate the way my side hustle experience was quite rewarding and heartwarming, as it connected me with dogs and let me observe and learn new things about them. We are lucky to have dogs in our lives, and I’m sure there’s still more to learn from them.
#dogs, #doglove, #doglover, #pets