Being obsessed with dogs makes people do some pretty weird things. But this is nothing to be ashamed of, because we all know dogs are pretty great. Here are 14 quirky things that dog-lovers do:
1. You have 800 pictures on your phone, and 700 of them are your dog.
Your dog is seriously so photogenic, and it's more fun to make them pose for a photo than to take selfies of yourself!
2. If someone else is walking a dog, all you can do is internally scream of cuteness.
Or, if you aren’t shy, run up and beg the owner to let you pet their dog.
3. You can’t count how many nicknames you have for your dog.
Sadie: Suds, Saders, Sitar, Sades, Sudsy, Saderbabers…etc.
4. There’s lots of singing to your dogs…
These are usually original creations, or you like to change the words to popular songs like Dude (Looks Like a Lady) by Aerosmith.
5. When you’re sad, the only thing to cheer you up is to either cuddle with your dog or look up puppy videos.
Those big, round eyes easily convince you to start smiling again.
6. You can’t talk to dogs in your normal voice.
They're so darn cute, it's impossible to act normally in front of them. Plus, dogs certainly don't judge you for acting out of the ordinary.
7. Marley and Me will make you sob hysterically.
Spoiler Alert: The dog dies.
8. You buy your dog 30 toys.
Do they really need that many? Probably not. They’re always playing with the same one over and over again.
9. Sometimes you have to hold back your laughter when you walk your dogs.
Not sure if anyone else does this, but I have to try so hard not to laugh because my dog’s ears are bouncing all over the place.
10. A huge dog escapes its owner and comes barreling at you while you’re walking your dog. What do you do?
Pick your own dog up. You’d rather get bitten than have your canine companion be attacked.
11. It’s required that your dog receive 50 hugs daily.
You can't resist. And some dogs are compliant, yet some like to growl and run away (but you don't let this stop you).
12. You stop noticing that your clothes are constantly covered in fur.
Dogs shed. A LOT. But hey, this can help keep you warm in the winter, right?
13. When you were little, you forced them to have sleepovers with you.
When I was in elementary school, I barricaded the living room with chairs and pillows (so she'd stay with me throughout the night) and had a sleepover with my dog. She wasn't a fan of sleeping in human beds, so I was willing to compromise.
14. Your friends are definitely tired of hearing about your dogs.
I have no regrets sending you 50 snapchats of my dog sleeping by the back door. As a dog owner, it is my duty to spread their cuteness to the world, one snap at a time.
Dogs make the world a better place. One may call me crazy for my obsession, but dog owners actually have reduced anxiety and are overall happier people. I understand that dogs may not be for everyone -- you certainly don't need a dog to achieve happiness -- but you can't deny that their companionship is truly beneficial to society.