Following another visit to the hospice, my heart felt heavy with emotions I couldn’t quite put into words. Then, out of nowhere, Mabel Joy stopped in her tracks, her eyes meeting mine as if she knew exactly what I needed. It was as if she could sense the weight on my heart, just as I could feel hers. Without a word, we found ourselves sitting together on the curb for about 15 minutes. In that moment, with her comforting presence, she provided such comfort as tears flowed freely, offering silent support in my time of need.
As we drove to our next care visit, thoughts of the many lessons and moments shared with my dogs flooded my mind. Over the years with my therapy dogs, I’ve come to recognize that they’ve been some of my greatest teachers, surpassing even human connections. Someday, I’m determined to capture these invaluable experiences and insights in a book. Here, I’ll share just a glimpse of a few things they’ve taught me.
Don’t judge people.
We are so quick to make judgements about people based on their outward appearance. Dogs don’t do this. When we judge other people, we miss out on so much. Everyone has a special story that is worth listening to. My dogs are superb listeners. They’ve taught me that if we take our eyes off what people look like and listen to their hearts, we’ll hear some beautiful stories.
Dogs savor the moments and enjoy the journey.
Mabel, Maddie, and Moose soak in every second of the day like they are guests at the greatest party anyone has ever thrown. They focus on what’s happening in the moment, not the end result, or what might happen in the next hour, tomorrow, or next week. They don’t spend their time asking, “What if?” My dogs just roll with the twists and turns of life, no matter where it takes them. And they enjoy the journey–with a big tail wag and a smile!
Be genuine with your apologies when you are wrong.
We should not downplay our offenses or give half-hearted apologies when we have done wrong. When Mabel lets me down, she lays at my feet and looks up at me, her eyes clearly communicating that she is sorry, and wants forgiveness. With her eyes locked on mine, I stay upset for about 30 seconds before I melt. I love her and trust her apology and we move on to the next moment. Imagine if we could sort out all our disagreements quickly, because we offer genuine apologies, and then choose to move on.
Persistence pays off and practice makes perfect.
Training Mabel, Maddie, and Moose to be therapy dogs has taught me how impatient I can be. Just ask my trainers! My dogs don’t know the trick before we try it, and they don’t understand what I’m asking them to do the first few times. But when we break the trick down into small pieces, every milestone is a victory, and they love those winning moments. My dogs don’t beat themselves up if they don’t get it right the first few times. Instead, they wait patiently for the next step, and hope for that delicious treat. It’s okay to fail on the first try. Failure makes the small victories even sweeter.
Dogs forgive and move on.
I do at least one thing every day that my dogs don’t like. For instance, I leave the house without them, or get too busy to walk them or toss the ball around in the backyard. But no matter how many times I disappoint them in a day, they forgive me. There might be a few minutes of moping and whining, but before long, they are tucked back under my arm. And my dogs have made me more adaptable too. When those brand new $150 running shoes never hit the payment before they became chew toys, I got over it. In the end, those petty annoyances — like stains on the carpet and mauled sweaters — don’t break the bond I have with my dogs. Holding a grudge magnifies the unimportant and minimizes the significant. Relationships matter, and being able to forgive frees us to enjoy them to the fullest extent.
Dogs teach us self acceptance:
Have you ever seen a dog sad or depressed over its looks? They come in all shapes and sizes, some even with quirky features. Yet, they embrace themselves wholeheartedly, regardless of any imperfections. Whether they’re missing a leg or have a funny tail, or goofy face, they make the most of what they’ve got. As humans, we’re often too hard on ourselves, our own toughest critics. But if we took a moment each day to appreciate ourselves for who we are, flaws and all, we might just find that self-love grows. And from there, we can extend that love to others.
Dogs love. A lot.
It can be expensive and inconvenient to have a dog in your life. You find yourself up in the middle of the night cleaning a 
smelly accident, or in the doggy ER because your new puppy ate the squeaker out of her toy. Those twice-a-night potty training adventures can make the next day seem a little foggy, but we put up with all the hassles because we love our dogs. And they love us. And guess what? That feeling of being loved unconditionally is worth the mess. I can be messy, too, so I make sure the people I love know how much they mean to me. They put up with me, so it must be working.
Every minute I spend with my dogs makes me a better person. I often think to myself how wonderful the world would be if we met each encounter in life with genuine warmth and love, regardless of the challenges we might be facing.
Thank you, Mabel Joy, Maddie Grace, and Moose Man, for being such patient teachers and loyal companions. I am daily learning from your example. You deserve all of the treats!