Man's Best Friend

Friendship is a very valuable thing. Friends can make a world of difference for us when times are tough and we need a little boost. Good friendships require that you invest a lot of time and effort into their development. Once a good friendship has been established, the return on your investment is invaluable. But there is one friendship that gives you a perfectly loyal friend with relatively minimal investment. This unique relationship has earned for dogs the long-standing reputation as Man’s Best Friend.

Making friends comes easy for most of us. Others struggle and wait forever to make any friends. But the easiest friend you will ever make is with a dog. Unlike some humans, a dog will not measure your relationship based on looks, intelligence, or prestige. All you need is a pulse and a positive disposition. Dave Barry summed it up perfectly when he explained that “You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would have thought of that!’”

Before we go on, let me first give you the Merriam-Blairster’s Dictionary definition of dog.

Dog

[Dawg, dog]

Noun

1.Domesticated canid from the family, Canis nonyippyis

2. Canines that are typically bigger than a mutated rat who are lacking (mostly) the following characteristics: yappy, irritating, disagreeable, needy, inept, surly, homely, haughty, conceited, and meddlesome.

I understand this definition of a dog might offend many avid rat and assorted rodent owners. Offense was not intended during the publication of Merriam-Blairster’s Dictionary. As a mildly reputable brand, they are simply interested in defining things as they are and not as people want them to be. Some people may mistakenly categorize some canine species as a “dog”. Nonetheless, a categorization of “feline” or “rodent” may be more a more appropriately applied classification.

I happen to endorse this definition and I am afraid I will not budge on my opinion. Perhaps my bias comes from being bitten on numerous occasions by the little wretches on the Chilean streets. Or perhaps the wild terrain of northern British Columbia made me particular to larger and more useful breeds. Either way, I love dogs! I hope always to have one in our family.

I would like to highlight my friendship with my dog, Chief. I have been lucky to know a lot of family dogs I shared with my brothers and sisters. Chief was the first dog to join our new family. My experience with good dogs motivated me to get one for ourselves. Since the day we got him, he has been a welcome part of our home.

My dog experiences have taught two important things. 1) Never name a dog Lucky. 2) A friendship with a dog can be a rewarding and fulfilling relationship so long as you do your part. Frankly, our human part in the friendship is a limited one. We have to make sure the pooch stays healthy and fed. After that, all that’s left is some exercise, frequent belly rubs, and the occasional garbage mess. That is essentially it. Doing nothing above or beyond that all but guarantees a loyal friend.

What does man’s best friend give us in return?

Hunting companion

Companionship. We got Chief for a multitude of reasons. One big reason for me was that I wanted a little buddy to accompany me and my family on campouts, hunting trips, and hikes. I got used to our old dogs Sambo and Cassie following me and my brothers everywhere in the forests behind our house. Their company made us feel safe and guarded no matter what. They were perfect companions for our summer days out in the sun and we never wandered alone.

Dogs make great companions for many reasons. They are patient enough to hear you gripe for hours. They are sensitive enough to know when something is not right. They are eager to make you happy and pleased. They even have a sense of humor other domestic animals just don’t seem to have (anyone who has tried to playfully wrestle with cats knows exactly what I am talking about). Dogs just have a personality that we wished many people had.

Sometimes you need someone who is happy no matter what. Someone who doesn’t worry or care about the next paycheck, big exam, or final deadline that is looming in the near future; someone whose sole job is to put a smile on and greet you excitedly at the door. Their attitude and love can help you forget, even if it is just for a short time, the burdens and stress that you carry daily. It is a thankless, yet important task.

Chief has never failed in this responsibility. By all accounts, he loves his job and preforms it dutifully every day. He is as good a companion as they come. He refuses to leave Kara’s side when he is in a protective mood. At the end of a long day, he is always the first at the door to greet me with his massive tail wagging enthusiastically. His excitement is barely containable when he sees us. He knows not to jump on you, but he will lean his 110 pound frame into you just to make sure you know he missed you. Chief, and many dogs like him, are iconic companions.

“Big deal…” says the dog hater. “I already have friends and none of them slobber on me and poop in my yard.” I certainly hope that is the case, or else you are clearly hanging out with the wrong crowd. Clearly a human is more suited for friendship in many aspects. Generally, though not always, humans are more capable of carrying on an intelligible conversation or sharing a nice civilized meal. 

Therefore, companionship alone is not enough to justify the title “Man’s Best Friend”. What else can your dog offer you?

Heroism. When you consider how much dogs love us, it shouldn’t be a surprise that they do extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances. Probably the best example I have of this is of our old dog Cassie. When I was a smaller boy I enjoyed playing in the gullies in our back yard. For a while, there was a significant amount of buried barbed wire that was half exposed above the surface in the gully at that time. One time I managed to get snared in the barbed wire and could not get myself out. I struggled for a long time, but the harder I struggled the more ensnared I became. For a young child it was kind of a scary moment because no matter how loud I cried, no one heard me. No one but Cassie that is. Once Cassie knew I was in trouble, she crawled past all the barbed wire and sat at my side in an effort to calm me down. She stayed there the whole time until someone came to help me hours later.

Cassie is a family legend! Everyone loved her and she loved everyone.

That by no means was a life or death situation, but it made all the difference to a small scared boy. That was one event of many where Cassie showed her heroism. One more than one occasion she mothered  animals of different species who lost their mothers, essentially saving their lives. It did not matter if they were piglets or kittens. She noticed they needed something and went above and beyond to be a hero.

To a dog, you are his family and his pack. When a dog comes to feel part of the pack, he will protect that pack. Chief is a big softy. I would like to think that in a moment of need, he would use his intimidating size to protect and defend. The more likely scenario is where he may innocently betray his family in exchange for petting and attention. He shows flashes of bravery when he patrols the windows in our house to growl at strangers, or when he sees a bear on the side of the road. He is eager to make them know that he is there and seemingly unafraid. So hope remains.

Growling at passerby's

“Big deal…” replies the doggie downer. “My human friends do all sorts of admirable things and STILL don’t slobber all over me and poop in my yard.” Again, I can’t argue much against that. But I have noticed disturbing trends where some people are more interested in capturing drama on their phone and posting it to facebook or twitter instead of stepping in when help is needed. Undistracted by phones or social media, a dog will leap into action where a select few humans would rather watch. Consider our greatest human heroes: our armed forces, law enforcement, and fire fighters. Do you even notice their silent partners? You know… the ones who sniff out bombs? The ones who lead rescuers to avalanche victims? Or the ones who jump out of airplanes side by side with the military? When was the last time your human friend successfully sniffed out an unsavory-placed illegal drug suppository? Just some things to consider.

Companionship and heroism make a compelling case for “Man’s Best Friend”. However, there is one more thing that basically includes everything we talked about into one thing. It is the one quality dogs possess more than any other animal, including humans in some cases.

Loyalty. I know I have hinted at this already, but loyalty is an underrated quality that we take for granted in a friend. A loyal friend will do anything for you. They will be by your side through everything without much regard for their own safety and wellbeing.

My dad has a dog named Cali. She adores my dad and eagerly follows him everywhere. You might not consider it a big deal, but she will walk miles to stay near him. Every year when my dad works in the tractor, she is not far behind him trailing the tractor with every pass, back-and-forth, until the work day is done. That dog has seen more miles than an Avis rental-car. She is always ready when he needs her to be. That is incredible when you think about it! I have a hard enough time jogging one mile when it is clearly for my own benefit. How many of us would run many miles, day after day, for no other reason but to be there in case they needed something?

This is pretty typical of dogs. There are special instances of dogs refusing to abandon their owner or pack-members in spite of death, danger, or other circumstances. Loyalty is a quality that we admire in humans because I feel it is something that is more uncommon. I am grateful for the unwavering loyalty of family and friends. In that group, I must include the loyal dogs that I have known.

These two get along very well

I feel this is the one distinct feature a good dog will have that many humans still struggle with. Humanity struggles with epidemics such as infidelity, backbiting, betrayal, and selfishness. Dogs are just not inclined to do those things, with the exception of backbiting. Some are more than inclined to do that. But I digress.

There are people who aren’t big dog enthusiasts out there. I get it. When you take into account all the annoyances and messes that come with a dog, it can be easy to dislike them. Admittedly, I am one of those intolerant people who hates it when dogs bark non-stop. I hate seeing ill-behaved dogs in public places where they clearly don’t belong. My biggest complaint is finding poop out in the middle of a field when I am playing football or soccer! I too have my frustrations. However, I would encourage you to focus your frustration away from the dogs and point it in the right direction. A dog barks for hours because the owner spends no time exercising or playing with them. A dog misbehaves because the owner is too lazy to teach or discipline their dog correctly. A dog poops wherever they feel because the owner doesn’t teach them right and doesn’t pick up after them.Fault for poor behavior always lies at one end of the leash. Most of the time it is not on the dog’s end.

It is never easy to have to say goodbye to a friend. For people who have long lasting friendships with their dogs, the same applies. Time with our dogs can be short. Once you have gained a friend, it can be a tough trial to have to say goodbye. So make the most out of your friendship. Spend time with them playing, learning, and enjoying life. They will surprise you. They will teach you. They will encourage you. All of this because you invested your friendship in them. Seems to me like a pretty impressive return on investment.