Billy Currington said it best when he said, "I want you to love me like my dog." Although dogs are not able to talk, my dog has easily become one of the greatest friends I have ever had.

Dogs are capable of a lot more than humans make them out to be capable of. They are intelligent creatures with a depth of emotions many cannot understand. Dogs get sad, excited, mad, and loving, too. What I want to let everyone know is, my dog is my best friend; someone who is always there for me when I need him. And as weird as that sounds, it is the truth.

He does not yell at me when I made an obvious mistake. Instead, he runs over and licks me because his heart is incapable of hating me. His heart is incapable of anything except love. When I step on his paw, he does not bite me. He slowly walks up to me as if he had done something wrong. He will never be able to understand the words "Oh my gosh, I am sorry!" But that is okay, because he will love me anyway. And although he may never fully understand how much I love him, I do regardless.

He has heard every sob story of my life from boys to diets, and he has sat and listened, mostly because he had no other option. He has heard every exciting thing that has happened to me and every low point of my life. He does not tell me when I am wrong, and the look in his eyes when I am sad makes me feel better instantly. He is never too tired to hang out with me, and frankly, he does not have many options—so I always have someone to play with.

Every time I need someone to eat the food I did not want, he will. Every time I am sad and need to be cuddled, he will. Every time I need someone to go on a run with, he will. Every time I need to dance with someone, he will (reluctantly). Every time I "need" to get in trouble for dirt being on the floor, he will help. Every time I need someone to watch a movie with me, he will.

Needless to say, whenever I need him, he is there. He is my shoulder to cry on and the one who puts a smile on my face when I run through the door. Yes, I wish he would leave behind his incessant barking or pee on the floor when I leave him alone for too long—but these are small things to pay when he gives so much in return. We do not thank our dogs often enough for all that they do for us, but I know my dog is my best friend.

He never asks me for much but he sure does give me a lot, and I am so thankful and lucky to get to have him in my life. A dog can be your best friend if you just let him in and give him a home. So, here is to my dog and everything he does for me without even knowing it.