Whenever I think about my life, my mind drifts to the many moments shared with my dogs. Each decade seems to be marked by the dog(s) that helped carry me through the seasons of my life. The emotional bond between dogs and their owners is truly something special. This connection goes beyond companionship; it reaches our hearts in ways that are hard to put into words.
The First Dog: My Childhood Companion
Growing up, my family brought home a German Shepherd named Grover (yep, from Sesame Street). I was only maybe four or five years old, and though I don't remember the day he arrived, I remember him as a puppy. He and I did everything together! I was essentially a puppy myself. We drank from the same bowl - yeah, I did that. We explored everything together. I was basically a feral child growing up on the outskirts of a rural town, so there weren't many kids around my age, and so my only real companion was my dog. I remember bursting with excitement as he came into our lives. Grover was my first friend and my introduction to the wonderful world of canine companionship.
From early morning dew-covered romps in the backyard and noonday adventures into the woods that surrounded our home, to lazy afternoons sprawled on the living room floor watching black and white cartoons, Grover was my confidant and my playmate. He taught me the joy of having a partner for exploration. I recall one winter afternoon, we spent hours in the woods playing "Peter and the Wolf," and learning about the world around us. When I was sad, he would sit beside me, his warmth providing comfort that was almost as if I had a magical companion.
This bond with Grover helped me process emotions in a new way. I learned to sense his mood and respond with joy or affection, and he became adept at sensing my emotions as well. It was not just about caring for an animal; it was about building a deeper understanding through intuition and the creation of a new language.
Learning Through Loss
The heart-wrenching day eventually came - they always do. As I said, each dog seemed to define a season of my life, and he defined the most important for me, my childhood. From a very young boy to a young man. He died in my 17th year, he was 13 or 14 I think. I experienced a grief, a loss, that shaped me in unexpected ways, and through this melancholy, I understood loyalty, love, regret, and loss in painful new ways. As I grew up, I became immersed in the toils and troubles of childhood, and eventually teenage angst. I didn't always pay much attention to him during this time of my life, I took him for granted. I think of no better way of expressing it than the song Puff the Magic Dragon.
In reflecting on this, I began to realize the emotional intelligence required in dog ownership and training. Understanding our pets means understanding their feelings and building emotional connections. For instance, studies show that dog owners often display higher emotional intelligence than those without pets. We adapt to their needs, learning to communicate beyond words. We develop a love language.
Even in sorrow, the love we shared transcended the loss, teaching me valuable lessons that continue to influence how I connect with dogs and their owners.
The Companionship of a Rescue
In the same year I lost Grover I made the careless decision to adopt a dog (remember I was 17). I was leaving my high school in my 77' Monte Carlo and passed a cardboard sign on the side of the road that said, "free puppies." That's when I met Sorsha who eventually transformed into Binky (a more fitting name), a scruffy dobermanXGSD mix bursting with energy and drive. Binky was not a replacement for Grover; she closed the childhood chapter of my life and saw me into my young adulthood.
Our bond grew as Binky adjusted to her new home. Developing a relationship with her was a rewarding journey. Of course I did all the wrong things. She whined in her kennel the first night so I invited her into my bed. Grover never slept with me. I took her everywhere with me. Parties, road trips, even to work. She proved to be quite the frisbee dog, she was addicted, and so that was a very bonding activity for us. She was so good at it that it was pretty impressive to watch her, she wanted to win, wanted to tear the frisbee out of the air, and nothing was going to stop her.
Just like with Grover, my relationship with Binky reinforced the importance of emotional understanding. Dogs and humans have walked this intertwined path for ages, learning from each other’s experiences and emotions.
Building New Memories
As Binky settled into our home, our lives intertwined and she is forever a part of that time in my life. Whether is was taking a year off after high school to "figure things out" or packing to go off to college after I figured things out. Coming home after my freshman year, and realizing I could never really come back, that that chapter was closed, was sobering.
The following year I brought my girlfriend home (now wife) and unceremoniously evicted Binky from my bed. It was a betrayal, no two ways about it. So Binky eventually became my parents dog who I saw on holidays. Things changed, she wasn't my dog anymore, but we still shared a connection. She and my brother's Siberian Husky, took me through my 20s and Binky died in my 30th year. Another decade, another dog.
Through her and Oaxaca (the Husky) I saw how much joy a simple game of fetch, or a romp in the Rocky Mountains could bring. Watching her race after frisbees filled my heart with delight. It served as a beautiful reminder that life is about cherishing small joys. Binky taught me about living in the moment, even as I was enduring debilitating health problems that I only recently realized was a v@cc1n3 %njury. Imagine that, that I have to mask the words so my post isn't demoted or blocked!
She helped develop my emotional intelligence in ways I hadn't anticipated during a very scary time in my life.
An Endless Journey of Love - Why Dog Owners Display Higher Emotional Intelligence than Those without Pets.
As I sit here, reflecting on my experiences with Grover and Binky, I am thankful for the lessons they taught me. The unconditional love and loyalty shown by dogs shape our lives and help us grow emotionally. For those of us with dogs in our lives, each memory and experience of the seasons of our lives has a dog in the background or foreground, and most assuredly, they had something to teach us while they were with us.
My 30s were framed by my very reactive German Shepherd, Timber. This is also the era when I started my dog walking company, became a canine professional, and started my journey into dogs and dog training, it was 2001.
From my 40s and now into my 50s are occupied by Jack, Vehka, Æthelwulf, and now my labs. The Journey continues.
I know there will always be at least one dog in my life, each one an opportunity for new adventures and emotional connections. Every dog allows me to explore love and relationship in its many forms, developing a richer understanding of companionship.
If you have your own four legged companions, take a moment to reflect on your experiences together. What does your emotional journey look like with your dogs? Anything you'd like to share? Leave a comment below.
In appreciating these moments, you create a legacy of love that resonates for years to come. After all, dogs are more than just pets; they are family, friends, and unwavering teachers reminding us of the power of unconditional love.
Seasons and Dogs
In springtime's bloom, a puppy's play,
With boundless joy, they greet the day.
Soft fur and wagging tails abound,
In laughter's echo, love is found.
Summer's Warmth
As summer sun casts golden rays,
Through fields we wander, lost in our ways.
With every bark and playful chase,
In their bright eyes, we find our place.
Autumn's Change
Then autumn comes, with leaves that fall,
In quiet moments, we remember our calling.
Through changing paths, they guide our way,
In gentle nudges, they help us stay.
Winter's Embrace
As winter wraps the world in white,
With loyal hearts, they bring the light.
In cozy corners, we share our dreams,
And with every wag, love's warmth redeems.
Lessons Learned
From pups to elders, through joy and strife,
They teach us patience, the art of life.
In their brief presence, we learn to forgive,
To cherish each moment, and to truly live.
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