Dogs are wonderful creatures. Dogs are licking, barking, furry, wonderful creatures. Anyone who has a dog knows how blessed they are to have them. They are quick to forgive and forget. They have more patience and more love than anything else in the world.

Dogs have the most wonderful soul. If you come home and you are not greeted by your furry friend, you know there is something wrong. They feel shame when they have wronged you. They know that it's wrong to dig through the trash, eating and shredding everything, but it's so good that they can’t help themselves. But, they still feel bad.

Every time I pack for college, my dog gets sad and depressed because she knows what those boxes mean. When I finally come home to visit, she cries because she so happy I’m back that she can hardly control herself. There is no one in the world that makes me feel the way she does. She gives me butterflies in my stomach when I know that I’ll see her soon. Every time I go home, it’s like meeting her for the first time. No one can make you love them like that for over 12 years and counting. She never leaves my side. I bring her everywhere I can. When she hears we are going for a ride, she is always so excited she gets to stretch her old muscles.

Dogs are the only creatures on earth that will never stay mad at you for more than about 30 seconds. They will always have the biggest smile on their face. They encourage you to get more exercise, and they are very excited to join you! There is not a dog I know that doesn’t go nuts when asked the question “do you want to go for a walk?" Some simply go nuts for one word: “walk,” “ball,” or “outside." It’s amazing how easily they get overjoyed for just about everything.

Not only are dogs helpful in physical ways, but they are helpful psychologically. In many ways, they help manage and relieve stress. They are so adorable, just the simple look at the adorable, furry face sends dopamine to the brain and gives us a happy sensation. The excitement that ensues when you return home, even if you just ran to the mailbox, gives us a sense of acceptance and belonging. A dog is someone who, no matter where you were, who you were with, what you were doing, or how long you were gone, is beyond excited you are back home. No matter how they were feeling when you left, they hold no grudges. Dogs are the best listeners and secret keepers--you can tell them anything. Knowing that whatever you tell them is a secret and that it is safe with them releases the weight of anything that is on your mind.

Dogs are the best friend anyone could ever have. They don’t cancel plans or bring some other dog along to the plans that you thought were just for the two of you. They are never mad for a reason you will never understand. Dogs always want to go do what you want to do and they do it with a big smile so you know they are always ready for what is to come. Dogs don’t go out and get a new best friend, and they always like your human best friend. I wish I could say they never eat something you were planning on eating, but that’s not true. Dogs never let you go to bed without them. They keep you safe. I don’t know about you, but while I’m home alone, I know that I'm probably okay as long as my dog is still sleeping.

We have so much to learn from dogs. We have to pay attention to their level of patience. They are so self-confident that they don’t mind if they have put on a few pounds, or even if you have for that matter. They are the most accepting creatures on the planet. If you like them, they like you, and even if you don’t, they like you anyway. Dogs make the most out of every single day.