Why Everyone Needs a Dog.

THAT FACE. 

It's come to my attention that a lot of people don't like dogs. And, really, this just breaks my heart. I honestly don't understand it.
So, I'm going to tell you five reasons why dogs (especially Saylor) are the best.

I got my puppy, at about 11 weeks, two summers ago. Saylor, is a mini australian shepherd-poodle (aussiedoodle). Come read all about her here. She seriously is the best dog in the world. She is currently 2 1/2 and she has about a 100 word vocabulary right now (understand about 100 words that I say). She loves to swim, hike, go on walks, cuddle, and play. She will do anything with all ages. She loves kids and adults and anyone who will love her. She is incredibly smart and listens pretty well. She's my little sidekick and follows me around everywhere like a shadow. It gets annoying at times, but because it has been such a lonely summer with T gone, it has been nice to have another presence in my home and a buddy to hang out with.

Disclaimer: Puppies are a lot of work. This is not a post to explain why everyone needs a puppy, but rather, why everyone needs a dog. Puppies are fun and cute and you can train them how you want, but they are a lot of work. You can always get a two year old doggie :)

Okay, let's get this party going.

1. They empathize with humans.
Goldsmith College released a study that showed more dogs will approach someone who's crying or in distress than someone who is not. This shows that dogs are empathize and are eager to help comfort humans in pain. My dog always knows when I don't feel well or when I am sad. She comes and lays with me and is very attached. Dogs can sense pain or sadness. They empathize better than some humans! Ha!  

2. They are the best cuddle buddies. 
Dogs love to lay with their owners--even if it's just by them or on them, they are the best cuddlers in the world!

3. They have so much personality. 
Who says dogs are boring? Often times, my husband and I will just sit there and laugh at our dog. She is always doing something funny. We like to tease her and make her do tricks for us. She is such  a good source of entertainment. 

4. It bonds your family. Or gives you a companion. 
I know this may sound silly, but since having our puppy, I have noticed how much closer my husband and I are. We like to take her on walks or hikes together. We talk about how to take care of her. We aren't quite ready for kids, so this next step of getting a doggy, to have something to take care of together is awesome. If you are single, it is such a great companion. You leave for ten minutes and you come back and they are just as excited to see you as if you were gone for ten days. 

5. They reduce stress.
Some may argue this case because dogs do require a fair amount of work so one may think that it may cause more stress. However, there have been numerous studies that have shown that simply petting a dog for two minutes reduces heart problems, lowers anxiety, and helps with depression. There is just something so happy about petting a dog. 

Yes, there are some downsides to having a dog. For example, Saylor still jumps on people and is incredibly attached to me, but really, how could you not want an adorable face like that? And if you don't want to take care of your own dog, you can come walk and play with mine any time. She loves people so much.
:)