Life Lessons I've Learned From My Dog

A year ago tomorrow, my best buddy Kingston was born. And since then he has made my life richer and happier in so many ways. This past year has been filled with memories, adventures, travels and of course many games of fetch. These are the lessons Kingston has taught me along the way.

Happy birthday buddy, I love you.

Whenever you see your loved ones wag your tail

Dogs don't battle their pride every day before they let us know how they feel. I admire that so much. Whether it's been 5 days or 5 minutes since Kingston has last seen me, his whole body wiggles and wags with excitement, which is a prelude to a lot of puppy kisses. It warms my heart and teaches me how important it is to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us. When is the last time I showed that much excitement just to see someone I loved?

Be grateful for all the treats in life

Whether it’s a chew bone, a  belly rub or a walk around the block, Kingston never takes a thing for granted, and is quick to show me how thankful and happy he is. How often in life do I expect something instead of show gratitude for it? It's so easy to take the tiniest things for granted, I'm so glad I have Kingston here to teach me to enjoy the simple things in life.

When making friends, judge them not on their appearance but their character

Being an only dog, Kingston loves making friends! Whether we're at the dog park, a lake or traveling, Kingston will get so excited at the sight of another dog, or in his eyes, another potential playmate. He doesn't distinguish the dog's size, color or appearance before deciding to engage in a game of chase.

You are alive! Be excited about that!

Kingston's enthusiasm for life is contagious, and when I see him so energetic and happy, I can't help but let it warm my heart. How often have I been upset or sad over the little petty things in life? Compared to people all around the world with real problems, I have it great. My reminder for this comes in a little black and furry package with a smile on his face every day :)

Always cuddle and kiss good mornings, good nights, hellos and goodbyes

Besides sticks, bones, squirrels and leaves, Kingston's favorite thing in the world would  probably be cuddles. I don't think there is a better medicine in the world than a sweet gentle puppy cuddling up to you. I am so grateful for that.

Be a loyal friend

Kingston is my best friend. He knows when I'm happy and shares my excitement for every day. He knows when I'm sad and I need a kiss or a laugh at his silly antics. We go everywhere together, step by step,  and we try to make the best out of everything. He is the best side kick I've ever had, and such a loyal companion.  My life is so much richer for having him in it.

It's ok to make mistakes

Don't get me wrong, Kingston is far from perfect. As a puppy and now an almost grown Lab-German Shepard mix, his energy and mischievousness know no bounds. He loves to sneak behind my back in the kitchen to see what tasty treats are in the garbage. And he would sooner jump up to reach your level then sit calmly for you when you get home. But he has learned a lot in the past year, one of which is it isn't the end of the world if you make a mess or forget a rule. We all make mistakes, its what we learn from them that counts.

Forgive easily, and love unconditionally

It's astounding how easily dogs will forgive you. Whether you had to scold them, or you had to leave them in the kennel all day, the minute they see you again they have already forgiven, forgotten and are ready to love you unconditionally. How long do I hold grudges? Are they worth it?

Turn every day into an adventure

Kingston came into the perfect family for this atitude. We love going on adventures, and now with this crazy dog in our life, our adventures are so much more fun.  No matter where you are, there is always something to be discovered. You just have to sniff every tree, run through all the bushes and toss a few rocks :)

Take time to play outside

I've always been an outdoors woman, but having Kingston has enriched that so much. It's a thrill to watch him pounce through a meadow in search of the next smell, little animal or leaf that is around the corner. His excitement just to be outside is contagious, and he takes in everything through all his senses. He's the best side kick an outdoors person can have.

Don't bite off more than you can chew

Kingston, like most dogs, has an affinity for sticks. But sometimes he gets a little cocky and chooses logs, or even "sticks" that are still attached to trees. I usually have to inform him that that is not yet a stick, but a branch. He's still working on this one.

Don't take yourself too seriously

If you want a cure to being uptight, rigid and serious all the time, get a dog. They teach you to let loose and have some fun once in awhile, (or in Kingston's case, most of the time).  Kingston could probably never be bored, he is always coming up with games to entertain himself. For example, one morning I was awakened by him jumping in the bed and tossing around in the covers. He kept pouncing on something and tossing it in the air, then diving in the covers and finding it again. I was annoyed that I was woken up so early on my day off, and was about to get angry with him. I looked to see what was so exciting that he couldn't wait to show me until I woke up: It was a dry kidney bean.  I broke down in laughter, and with such a funny and quirky start had an amazing day :) What if we all laughed a little more and argued a little less? What kind of world would that be?

Take time to listen to people

It warms my heart how much Kingston really tries to understand us when we talk to him. He cocks his head from one side to another in an effort to decode the garbled English language, even though he doesn't understand. How hard to I try to listen to people that I actually understand? 

Don't let being different hold you back

Kingston was the runt of nine puppies, and was born with a broken tail. We later discovered that he had some type of neurological condition that wouldn't let him separate his two front legs when he trots or runs, so instead he hops. We thought that he would grow out of it, but yet here he is one year old and still hopping like a machine. Yet he doesn't let this disability hold him back at all, in fact I've never seen a dog run faster than him at the dog park. Differences are only abnormal in a perception. Kingston gets along great, even though he does a lot of things differently. I was afraid of him drowning if he couldn't separate his legs to swim. But not only does he still swim with his disability, swimming is his favorite thing! He doesn't let anything keep him from enjoying his life, and has more character because of this. This is why we love him.