Happiness is coming home to your dog at the end of a long day.
Show me a dog, and I will not only show you man’s best friend, but also his personal confidant, comedian, and source of inspiration. Dogs are arguably one of the most curious, empathetic, and loyal animals on earth, and it is no wonder they have quickly become a favorite household companion. However, dogs embody much more than mere “pets.” Dogs are mirrors—sunny reflections of what relationships can be, of what we can be if only we allow it— and, if we use these mirrors correctly and consciously choose to learn from our dogs, they can give us profound insight into our lives and potentially teach us more about humanity than humans ever could.
I have been fortunate enough to build lasting relationships with three special dogs in my life: Cocoa, Lilly, and Odin.
While each dog is surprising in his or her own unique way, all three share a certain charm and charisma that I’m certain must be human if we continue to pull back a few more layers. Each of these canines drips with a poignant personality and feisty spirit that both embraces the world as it is and courageously challenges it to be better. All three have served as invaluable sources of comedy, friendship, and inspiration, and they continue to teach lessons we can all learn and grow from.
Man’s Best Friend Does Stand-Up
From their high-energy playful antics to their cutting, unsolicited “I told you so” looks, dogs possess an unparalleled power to make humans laugh. They should receive a commission for the sheer amount of joy they bring to our lives. I will never forget memories of Cocoa spiriting along the beach, wild-eyed and fancy-free as he zipped around the shoreline, happily swim-eat-puking his way through water, and frantically employing his tiny paws to dig up the sand with unabashed gusto; caricatures of Lilly gathering her “babies,” stuffing as many toys in her mouth as possible before theatrically dropping to the floor in dramatic exasperation just waiting for you to —for the love of God — scratch her belly already; visions of Odin watching TV—literally just staring for uninterrupted periods of time—casually slipping into a comfortable family routine while not daring to take his eyes off the vibrant experiences that unfolded on-screen.
Social media is practically dripping with numerous examples of dogs in their element: Living life while making their humans smile. From dogs with their own Instagram accounts to viral videos like “Corgi Flop,” people have dedicated seemingly infinite online space to pay homage to the furry Fidos that make them laugh.
Man’s Best Friend Redefines True Friendship
Dogs’ loyalty knows no bounds, particularly when it comes to friendship. Canines possess an almost superhero-like quality that allows them to feel and respond to their humans’ emotions with seemingly minimal effort. The now notorious episode when Cocoa sacrificed yogurt in order to comfort me will always burn in my mind as the perfect epitome of his love for “his people.”
First, its important to know that, like many Corgis, Cocoa had an undying[1] obsession for all things food. He would always wolf down his meal in a matter seconds, as if under direct gun-point threat of having it taken from him if he wasn’t hyper vigilant. Cocoa would incessantly scour the kitchen floor for any crumbs or remnants of goodies forlornly left behind[2] and pounce on anything he could possibly convince himself was edible. He could even convince himself to consume things that weren’t edible from time to time—toenail clippings, dried worms on the sidewalk, crusty eye boogers—anything in pursuit of the love of the game that, for him, lived and breathed around food.
This context is particularly valuable when analyzing the experience I have come to call “the yogurt effect.” One weekend when I was in middle school my social plans inexplicably fell apart[3]. I was supposed to meet several friends at the mall that afternoon, and they had unexpectedly canceled with short notice. Frustrated, my mom offered to bring me to the mall anyhow so the two of us could get out of the house, chat, and shop around. Of course, in true Mean Girls Fashion[4], we just so happened to bump into my “friends” at the mall as originally planned, just without the apparently onerous burden of my company. I was crushed.
We rushed home, and I immediately sprinted upstairs to my bedroom, already drowning in a deepening puddle of self-pity. Why didn’t they like me? How could they be so mean? I wedged myself in the narrow space between the wall and my bed, desperately wishing to hide from the deafening humility of what I had just experienced.
Mom, of course, instantly flocked to my side, earnestly trying to argue those girls weren’t worth my time. Cocoa even sensed the dire nature of my distress and sat at Mom’s feet as she unsuccessfully tried to reassure me that everything would be all right.
Amidst my wailing sobs Dad shouted down from the kitchen, indicating to Cocoa he had just polished off a yogurt cup that was now his for the “cleaning.[5]” Keenly aware food was available for consumption, Cocoa ran from my bedroom to the top of the staircase, hungrily looking down on the opportunity that had presented itself in the kitchen with longing in his eyes. I could hear Dad repeat his invitation, “Come on, Cocoa! Yogurt!” and expected to hear the subsequent cacophony of Cocoa’s gait as he raced down the stairs to solidify his conquest.
And yet, I heard nothing but silence. Even amidst my wailing I was able to recognize something wasn’t quite “right.” Moments later, I heard the pitter-patter of Cocoa’s trot as he made his way back into my room, looked at me with deep concern in his eyes, and planted himself firmly at Mom’s side in faithful solidarity that together they would make sure I was okay.
It was then that Mom spoke. “Cocoa just sacrificed food for you, Katie.”
If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.
Dogs’ loyalty and affection is undying: They have an innate ability to see the world not as it is, but how it should be—to view us not how we are, flaws and all, but as how we should be—and for this humans will forever be eternally indebted to our four-legged friends. Dogs are therapeutic and life-giving in ways mere words cannot describe. As this short film “Side Effects” indicates, the power of the human-canine connection is enduring and awe-inspiring in unprecedented ways.
Man’s Best Friend Leads By Example
Dogs not only cultivate laughs and loyalty, but they also inspire humans to grow into better versions of ourselves. From search-and-rescue dogs to seeing eye dogs, to therapy dogs, man’s best friend can do it all. Ever immersed in a deep appreciation for all things dog, Cam has shared countless videos depicting seemingly impossible feats dogs ultimately conquer—including one search-and-rescued-trained Belgian Malinois navigating a high ropes course while blindfolded— with untiring diligence and commitment.
And yet objectives don’t even have to be this sweeping and gallant for dogs to defy odds and perform with a good attitude. Cocoa, for instance, developed a disease called degenerative myelopathy as he got older. The terrible disease is common in his breed, and it slowly wears down the nervous system until dogs lose mobility and spine function. Notably, many Corgis with this illness are able to continue to thrive with the assistance of patient owners and a mobility aid. Like Cocoa in his later years, it is not uncommon for Corgis to wear “wheels” and adapt to life with continually redefined parameters of mobility and physical limits.
Cocoa wasn’t too sure about his wheels at first, but he quickly came to recognize that wheelchair equaled time outside, and he did what he could to make the most of it. After preliminary practice in the basement, Cocoa soon grew accustomed to his extra set of “legs,” and he used them to fearlessly continue to explore “the circle,” the neighborhood territory he had come to grow and love since he was a puppy.
Indeed, with his wheelchair Cocoa traversed puddles[6] and quickly grew his stamina and endurance to complete the same walk he had always completed.
During several particularly inspirational moments, Cocoa even used his wheels to his advantage, exercising his “need for speed” as he agilely cruised down the sidewalk in hot pursuit of his neighborhood dog friends—or the “neighborhood bullies” as Cam has comically come to rebrand this memory. His spunk and will to live will never cease to amaze and inspire me.
May we all embrace life with the same gusto as Cocoa in his wheelchair. If we can do this, we will live very full lives indeed.
There’s a reason “dog” is “god” spelled backwards: Dogs’ relentless affection inherently necessitates proof of the existence of a love more powerful, selfless, and unconditional than what we alone can understand.
It is often said friends come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
Friendship is not this variable with our four-legged friends: Dogs unequivocally light our days and touch our hearts forever.
[1] Read: Borderline unhealthy.
[2] How can humans be so wastefully unobservant to let precious food hit the ground!
[3] As middle school social plans are subject to do.
[4] Interestingly enough, the now-famous film that (ever so slightly) satirically dramatizes the cruel antics of teenagers was released when I was in 7th grade. Coincidence? I think not!
[5] And man, did Cocoa clean those things! Not a drop of yogurt could be found once he was through with them!
[6] Or “lakes,” depending on how you choose to see it. Tiny puddles equated to expansive waters for the little guy!
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